Date    Sunday 01.11.09

Old Leamingtonians Ladies welcomed a new opposition to the Crofts on Sunday and in spite of a solid effort only managed to get 5 points on the board.

Following two disappointing losses over the past fortnight, the first 30 minutes saw both teams fighting for chances to score. Strong wind gave OLs Ladies the first half advantage. Several kicks down field by fly-half Danni Benge gave OLs Ladies good positioning in the line-outs and May Sly stole ball from several of Nottingham’s throw-ins. Unfortunately, after several valiant efforts from both teams Nottingham’s fly half broke away and drew the defence to pass a nice clean ball out wide for the centre to score under the posts.  A couple of poorly organised defensive phases saw Nottingham ’s centre scoring again. In the second half OLs Ladies came back fighting, they were much stronger in the scrums, winning two out of three against the head and the attack was fired up. Several infringements gave OLs Ladies some quick penalties enabling them to punch their way up field. Second row Sarah Ward and back row Sarah Rothwell, new additions to the OLs Ladies side, were strong in attack and worked hard to keep the ball alive with nice clean off-loading. The ball was spun outwide after a couple of breakdowns and Gemma Honor drove the defence over the line. Unfortunately the touch down was disallowed as the referee couldn’t see. Nottingham ’s fly half used the wind to their advantage in the 22 drop out and put a nice kick high and deep for OLs ladies to chase back. On the back foot OLs Ladies failed to organise again and the winger picked up a loose ball to storm up the wing and score; this was the only try the Nottingham fly half failed to convert.  OLs Ladies maintained the drive they started the second half with and following some strong rucking and positive play they won a Nottingham scrum on the 22. OLs Ladies number 8, Ada Ajoku took the ball blind from a pick up at the back of the scrum and powered through the defence with support from Sarah Munday who had moved to stand-off. A Nottingham infringement around the ruck gave OLs Ladies a penalty eight metres from the line, a quick tap was taken by captain and scrum half Hannah Leyland and she scored straight through a gap on the line. With ten minutes left the OLs Ladies persisted but an interception gave the Nottingham fly half a try, once again under the posts. With fresh legs coming on for the opposition and a tiring OLs Ladies side a final Nottingham try was scored by a substitute centre in the dying minute the game.

Forward of the match with the hooker Vanessa Knevitt for excellent control of the scrums and strong defensive work, back of the match went to Centre Ally Grant who gained the OLs Ladies much ground with strong running and clean ball out to Gemma Honor.

Next Sunday the Ladies face Lichfield II’s at the Crofts – 2p kick-off.