Northwich WRUFC 32
Ormskirk Ladies 29
(J Leitch 4T, 2C, A O’Malley 1T)Â
Ormskirk Ladies’ hardcore - the ones that never turn down a game of rugby - travelled to Cheshire to take on a battle hardened Northwich team. Despite a gutsy and occassionally, brilliant display they were denied victory by a try two minutes from time.
It was a game of contrasting styles. Northwich used their powerful forwards to drive mauls at the heart of the Ormskirk defence, while Ormskirk threw the ball out to use their speed in the wide open spaces.
The result was a sandwich of scores. While Northwich had the puff they drove in three tries, one converted, to take a 17 - 0 lead. But as the intensity of the assault ebbed the Ladies struck back with five tries of their own, two converted, to take what looked to be a comfortable 29 - 17 lead. Fly hald Jenny Leitch, scrum half Katie Johnson, centre Emma Gander and wing Anna O’Malley linked superbly to run in tries from all over the park. Leitch notched four of the tries and O’Malley the other.
But Northwich all heart and muscle, reasserted their grip on the game. Three more tries in the closing stages pipped the Ladies at the post. However, both teams left the field knowing that they had produced a performance, and a spectacle, that was a credit to womens’ rugby.
