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Shetland Ladies vs Banff

Shetland Ladies vs Banff

Eloise Smith6 Oct 2018 - 02:40
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The full highlights reel of Shetland ladies opening game in the Tennants Womens North League.

BT Women’s North League

Kitti Kitti Bang Bang

Shetland RFC Ladies 34 Banff Ladies 0

Shetland RFC Ladies hosted Banff at the weekend to kick off the 2018/19 season. The Shetland Lassies outplayed and dominated Banff to secure all 5 points with Full back Kitty Horvath bagging two try’s as did returning Centre Jacqui Murray.

Shetland fielded an experienced and familiar looking team hungry for success after a long summer break. MacKelvie and Devine formed a new centre partnership with Horvath retained at Full back and a rejuvenated Sinclair slotted into the second row with Thomson.

Shetland kicked off and immediately put the Banff defence under pressure. The forwards dominated up front producing good clean ball for Moar to distribute at will and it wasn’t long before the pack put phases together to gain ground towards the goal line. The ball was moved efficiently between the Shetland backs with MacKelvie dominant in carrying the ball through the inside centre channel to set up yet another ruck. The ball was popped up to Sinclair on the charge and from the next breakdown, Scott-Miller, who’s ballet lessons have not been wasted, pirouetted and crashed over for the opening score to give Shetland an early 5-0 lead in the 7th minute.

The trend continued from the restart with Banff unable to break out of their own half but the glut of ball that Shetland had could not be converted into points with untimely handling errors interrupting the continuity and flow of the game to Shetlands disadvantage. Further frustration saw Scott-Miller picking up an injury and was replaced with Murray making here comeback after some 12 months out. It took another 30 minutes for Shetland to finally score their second try. Great support play by the forwards saw Shetland come close to the try line but another knock-on was scooped up by the Banff defence who kicked clear of their 22. Horvath picked up on the 10 meter line and sprinted open to the left hand side where she rounded the defence and finished brilliantly in the corner whilst fending off a great cover tackle. This gave the Shetland Lassies a 10 - 0 half time lead.

Shetland began the second period as they had left the first with pressure firmly on the Banff defence. The game plan was changed to ensure the ball would be moved quickly to the wings to stretch the Banff defence and tire their heavier pack. Shetland replaced Ridland to the second row for J Thomson and Scott, on debut, onto the left wing for Jamieson. Shetland dominated the scrum and line out but things just weren’t clicking for the lassies and it was looking like a very frustrating afternoon for the home side with 30 minutes to play.

But all good things come to those who are patient and never a truer word as Murray stepped up the pace. Firstly, a beautiful line off of scrum half Moar after the forwards had provided a huge platform to play from. Murray sliced through the defence untouched and scored between the posts for MacKelvie to convert and provide daylight at 17 -0. Secondly, just a few minutes later, it was the MacKelvie / Murray show with MacKelvie cracking the defence with another powerful run and then slipping the ball to Murray for an easy run in and a 22 – 0 lead.

The forward pack, led by H Thomson, was dominant with the back row colleagues of Tulloch and Wiseman ever-present at every breakdown but it was the speedy second row Sinclair who broke through next and once she was eventually brought down, Ridland and Tulloch cleaned out the ruck for Moar to spin the ball wide and left through Roe, Murray and Devine to Horvarth sprinting on to the ball and round the defence for her second try of the match.

Tregoninng, on debut, and J Thomson replaced Devine and Roe for the last 10 minutes and a reshuffle in the back line saw the speedsters of Scott and Falconer team up in the centres with the game now being controlled from standoff by Murray. It wasn’t too long to wait for Shetland to round off this victory in scoring their 6th try of the match. The all too dominant pack destroyed their Banff opposition in the scrum and the ball was fed from Moar to Murray. Scott, at a devastating pace, cut a line off of Murray and disappeared like the road runner 50 meters down the park with ball in hand to score between the posts. MacKelvie duly converted to take the final score to 34 - 0

This was an excellent home win for the lassies who can be forgiven for the handling errors in their first game of the season and for not producing the cricket score that their possession and territorial dominance deserved. MacKelvie was exceptional in the centre with Murray and Horvarth close behind in the plaudits of the coaches. Sinclair warrants special mention for her performance and increased fitness for the full 80 minutes and the back row of Wiseman, Tulloch and H Thomson have really gelled into both and attacking and hugely impressive defensive unit. Player of the match was awarded to Wiseman in the 7 jersey for her tireless performance and unselfish work at the breakdown.

Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.30pm at the Rugby pitch so if you’d like to give Ladies Rugby a go, please come along and join in. Everyone is welcome.

Team: Kitti Horvath, Jacqui Murray, Jessica Thomson, Emma Falconer, Elizabeth Tregonning, Aleisha Devine, Charis Scott, Natalie Jamieson, Karen MacKelvie, Katie Roe (Captain), Stephanie Moar, Laurie Henry, Heather Mullay, Siobhan Scott-Miller, Amy Strachan, Leigh-Anne Sinclair, Jennifer Thomson, Donna Ridland, Katrina Wiseman, Leanne Tulloch, Hazel Thomson.

Further reading