Sun 19 Sep 2021, 14:30
Pre-Season Friendly - Penryn Ladies 10 - 10 Launceston Ladies
The first game of the season was greeted with an abundance of nerves and acute anticipation as their opponents were rated as one of the dominant Ladies rugby team in Cornwall, containing a number of players representing Cornwall and also one league higher in the RFU standings. Launceston were entering into the ‘unknown’ with a new and very inexperienced team but confidence was high.
The structure of the match consisted of 3 twenty minute games. Penryn had a fairly large squad and Launceston had 17 squad members.
The first session started with Penryn kicking off putting LRFC under immediate pressure. Penryn were camped in the LRFC 22 for some considerable time but a heroic defensive effort thwarted their advances which turned the tables and enabled LRFC to attack. A drive by the forwards up the field resulted in a ruck being formed in the opponents 22 and the ball being whisked away through the backs only for centre Hollie Williams to dart her way through to the try line to score LRFC first try of the season. This was met with jubilation and shock which seemed to boost the fortitude of the Ladies. The difficult conversion was not successful. This was to install a level of confidence in the girls that had not been seen before.
Penryn Ladies 0-5 Launceston Ladies
The second session was almost a carbon copy of the first with some tenacious tackling and a structured attack orchestrated by the petite but lively Amy Warman. The pressure that LRFC put on the opponents paid dividends as Penryn won a line out on their own 22. Penryn cleanly won the line out and the pass from the scrum half was intercepted by the sharp acting Hollie Williams to score her second try of the game. The conversion was unsuccessful.
Penryn Ladies 0-10 Launceston Ladies.
The third and final session saw a rejuvenated Penryn who took the game to LRFC using their larger players as battering rams in an attempt to demoralise LRFC. This tactic did not work as the LRFC ladies were putting their bodies on the line in a great defensive effort. However the pressure resulted in the ball going wide to their wing where a couple of missed tackles allowed the winger to dart away for Penryn’s first try. Again the conversion was unsuccessful. The constant Penryn attacks started to deplete the stamina of the LRFC as Penryn were awarded a penalty 10 meters from the LRFC try line. The LRFC Ladies seemed to have a slight lapse of concentration as Penryn took a quick tap penalty to cross the try line for an unconverted try. Final score: -
Penryn Ladies 10- 10 Launceston Ladies.
This was a significant and impressive display by the Launceston Ladies which has boosted the moral of the team to stratospheric levels. Launceston dominated in many areas and could have convincingly won the game if not for slight errors made by a new progressive team with a lot still to learn. It would be too easy to individually name the outstanding players of the day but the list would be far too long for this report.
Everyone of these Ladies deserved the praise for their tenacity, fight and faith for each other today. Pride for each other and the shirt was abundantly evident in todays display. May the upward climb continue. ‘One in All in”
Team:
Mel Ruby, Jenna Arnold, Sam Sleep, Lynn Pridham, Sarah Revers, Briony Eddy, April Dawe, Vicki Doidge (Capt), Amy Warman, Jo Sandercock, Trish Spokes, Holly Williams, Lauren Carlyon, Kate Barrett, Abi Matthews, Debbie Coles, Chloe Lumb
