Heaton Moor WRUFCÂ Â Â 10
Ormskirk Ladies RUFCÂ Â 36
Tries - G Kendall (4), R Cowan, J Leitch
Conversions - J Leitch (3)
Ten minutes into the second half, with the game poised 12-10 in the Ladies’ favour, leggy lock Catherine Nixon broke through the Heaton Moor centres, galloped 20m and put No 8 Gail Kendall through and clear. Fly half Jenny Leitch converted and the stalemate was broken.
Moor offered up a fierce challenge to the ring rusty Ladies - it was the Ladies first game of 2007 - and every player had to stand up and be counted. None responded better than 2nd rows Nixon and Hayley Barrett. Both had outstanding games in the face of Moor’s pounding forward drives and they ran No 8 Kendall close for hte Girl of the Game award. However, the quicksilver Kendall’s four try haul demanded recognition.
A Guest try by wing Rachael Cowan - she left the game injured soon after - got the Ladies off to a good start, but Moor soon pegged it back to 7-5. The handling of both sides left something to be desired - catching - and both Coaches must have been considering sending out for an emergency optician at half time. The Ladies nudged further ahead with the first of Kendall’s tries but again Moor struck back.
With erratic handling and decision making so rubbish that the invasion of Iraq looked clever by comparison the omens were not good. But then came the Nixon Break and suddenly the clean handling, fast supporting Ladies of 2006 were back. Kendall strode through for another long range try and at 22-10 the Ladies looked to have sealed the victory.
But once more Heaton Moor came snarling back and it took a courageous goal line stand to keep them out. But now the Ladies were using their possession more wisely, the tiring home team were vulnerable. With centre Anna O’Malley and scrum half Katie Johnson adept at grubbing spilled ball off the floor like manic dung beetles the Ladies were dangerous from every breakdown.
Fly half Leitch was the first to take advantage and effectively killed the game off with her converted try. It remained only for Kendall to cap her best game of the season with her fourth try.
Report by Sam Botfield
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