OLs Ladies - Longton: 29 - 5

Written by Hannah Leyland

Sunday, 07 October 2007

Old Leamingtonian Ladies 1st XV won 29-5 at the Crofts on Sunday against Longton showing their improved form in the 1st league match of the season.  OL's ladies set the pace of their first game in Midlands 1 from the outset & scored within 6 minutes. Returning scrum half Charlie Graham controlled a driving maul & took the ball over the line for the first score. The trust within OL's showed when on their own try line with Longton pressuring every bit of the width of the pitch, desperate for the try, they could not penetrate. The strong defence paid off & OL's turned the ball over with captain Danni Benge  at 10 sending the ball into touch. In the 15th minute, some keen rucking turned the ball over after a Longton line out. OL's moved the ball wide & after a maul in the corner Graham again drove through & scored. Frustratingly, obscured referee vision meant he called it back for a 5 metre scrum. Secured confidently by the forwards OL's again moved the ball wide with a miss-pass from 10 to outside centre Vicky Stokes, back to 10 & finally out to fullback, Karen Coleman who gave OL's their 2nd try, which was converted by Stokes. Solid play aided the third try in the 38th minute when superb work from the forwards paid off with a driving scrum from the 5m line took them over. Former captain Christie Foster dropped to touch down & Stokes again scored the conversion. The second half began with a drop in pace from OL's & Longton provided some difficult opposition. A scrum on the Longton 22 gave them a half chance as the flanker picked up the ball & moved forward. Quick ripping from OL's flanker Pip Colenutt regained possession gave scrum half Claire Penna clean ball for a quick run & offload to blindside winger Celina Bennett who stormed up the touch to score the 4th try for OL's. Longton kept their heads & then penetrated the OL's 22. Despite some great defence including holding up Longton over the line 4 times, they finally broke through to score their only try. Keen for the bonus point OL's took a quick penalty in the last ten minutes; kicked up the pitch by Benge, secured & taken to ground by the winger & a quick pick & go from Stokes saw the 5th try. Spoilt line outs & scrums proved Longton were no match for OL's Ladies this season & that the newly promoted Midlands 1 team are ready for the challenges ahead. OL's Ladies face Lutterworth away on the 14th October. New & experienced players wanted Forward of the match went to Jackie Meade & Back of the match went to Celina Bennett.

 

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