Ladies XV - Match Report - Glossop

With morale high after the #nokitbagchallenge done earlier in the day and a good warm up session the ladies were keen to get going!

The whistle went and Aldwinians gained the earliest of advantages as the ball didn’t go 10 from the kick off, this started the 1st of many scrum contests of the match. From the first scrum, both teams knew this was not going to be an easy day. Play continued with both teams loading up their big runners to get over the gain line. With the scores level for about 20 minutes, the first try for Glossop came, as the opposition 10 saw space on the blindside flank and managed to crawl through several would be tacklers and used all her height to reach over the line for the games first try.

Aldwinians Ladies used this to push themselves into the next gear with Jenette Dunning, Katy Davies and Courtney Hodgekiess taking the game to Glossop Ladies. Aldwinians started to put together a few passages of play together lead by Genna Varghese and Elle Troise. Each time, edging closer and closer to the opposition try line finding willing runners in the form of Ciara Hodson darting her way into the opposition half. With possession and utilizing the big runners to gain yards, Aldwinians started mount more pressure on the Glossop try line, with the likes of Emma Ives, Alison Catlow and Jo Whitbread finding the space to bring the play to the Glossop 5m line. Unfortunately, the pressure simmered, and Glossop managed to keep the score line at 5-0.

With half time approaching, both teams continued to push each other to the limits, with scrums, rucks and the odd maul. As time went on, the pressure now tipped in Glossop’s favour only to be kept at bay by the onslaughts of hits from Eve Bowater, Miles Dutton, Meg Mulheir and Harriet Taylor. However, with the pressure and the penalty count mounting up, a quick tap from Glossop and good hands saw Glossop score just before the half time whistle.

Half time came and an updated lineup, Aldwinians Ladies were ready to go. However, much like the first half, possession quickly changed hands as the kick didn’t go 10 and Glossop were on the front foot with possession in the Aldwinians half. Unfortunately, this wave of pressure seemed to last longer and longer with each play creeping closer to the Aldwinians 5m. Some tremendous defending from Simone Stopford, Sloane Timothy and Rachel Warner kept the Glossop attack at bay, or so it seemed, a miss placed clearance kick gave the Glossop fullback the space for her to step in and out wide to the touchline and crab back to score under the under the posts, conversion followed. 17-0 to Glossop.

Much like the first half, Aldwinians stepped up another gear taking the game to Glossop in their half. Keeping the pressure on, Aldwinians made their way into the Glossop 22, to give away a penalty which was taken quickly and space opened up for Glossop to pin Aldwinians back in their own half. With the play in Aldwinians half, the new set of running forwards put their hands to push Glossop back, with the likes of Sarah Marrow, Nicole Livesey and Sarah Forrest making good yards. From this front foot ball, with Jess Stafford picking from the base of the scrum and working well with Lisa Jones, the ball was spread out wide with Dearbhla McCoy and Kayti Calderbank linking up well to reach the Glossop 22, unfortunately the play was a little too wide as the ladies were tackled into touch.

For the first time in the second half, the pressure was now on Glossop, who were being forced to play in their own 22. Glossop handled this well and made their way to the 10 and found space at the back, allowing them to race over into the corner, with this the game was 22-0.

With the clock ticking down, Aldwinians Ladies showed their determination to push forward yet again, however with the clock against them and the penalty count growing, Glossop were given easy ground, a series of quick tap penalties and play was back in the Aldwinians 22. Glossop continued to push for one last try. With Glossop throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Aldwinians, the last try was yet to come with Glossop being denied by hits from both Lyndsey Hillman and Rachael Marrow on each wing to close any wide play. However, this didn’t deter Glossop who continued to push and force Aldwinians to concede a scrum on their own 5. A miscommunication at the back of the scrum allowed Glossop one last converted score under the posts and full time called, the game ended 29-0.

A game where the score line doesn’t tell the full tale and a game enjoyed by all!