Ladies XV vs Huddersfield Laund Hill - Sunday 26th January
Aldwinians v Huddersfield Laund Hill Sunday 26th January
It was a bitterly cold day with high winds when Aldwinians took on Huddersfield at Audenshaw Park.
Aldwinians kicked off the first half playing into the strong wind. Rachael Marrow sent the ball over the opposition’s 10 metre line but the receiving Huddersfield player knocked on giving a scrum advantage to the home side. Not enough territory was gained from the subsequent forward pick up and drives from the ruck so Aldwinians came back to the scrum. Unfortunately the visitors did not have a full front row available for the game so uncontested scrums were held. With no contest at the set piece Aldwinians would not get the chance to see if their pack could repeat the impressive scrummaging performance of the week before. Controlled possession at the base of the scrum gave Anna Clarke the chance to pick and go from 8 making good yards avoiding tackles and the home side was approaching the Huddersfield try line. With the cold knock ons were to be expected and Aldwinians conceded scrum possession halting the first chance of points. Huddersfield took the ball from the scrum taking back the yards gained by Aldwinians only for the move to be halted by another knock forward from the visitors, Aldwinians scrum. 6 minutes in an injury was dealt with to a Huddersfield player and the game recommenced with the home side put in at the scrum still on the visitors 10 metre line. Aldwinians move the ball from the scrum to the backs but a misplaced pass gifts possession back to Huddersfield. The away side was unable to make good use of the ball as another knock on meant yet another scrum. From the scrum Anna Clarke picked again and made her way to the opponents 22, recycled possession from the home side pack and good carries from Eleanor Maden, Whitney Fawkner and Lauren Coxhill threatened the Huddersfield line only to be bundled into touch down the Huddersfield left hand side 5 metres out. The ball was won at the lineout by Huddersfield but bounced into touch for an Aldwinians put in at the lineout. Turnover by the away side at the next lineout allowed the visitors to relieve the pressure but an infringement at the breakdown gave a penalty to Aldwinians. From the resulting penalty sloppy passing from the home side allowed Huddersfield to gain possession and drive up to the Aldwinians 10 metre line. At the breakdown Aldwinians were penalized for coming in at the side and Huddersfield had the penalty.
Turnover ball back to Aldwinians but again the ball could not be kept in hand and another scrum to Huddersfield. This mode of play continued with neither side being able to keep hold of the ball for any period of time. Aldwinians managed to move forward to the half way line through the pack and were awarded another scrum. Another pick up at the back of the scrum from Anna Clarke and the home side were back in the oppositions half moving down their right flank. Penalty conceded by the visitors quickly taken and Abi Jeffrey powered forward to the line, further yards made by Lauren Coxhill and Anna Clarke eventually the ball came to Eleanor Maden who made it over the line to score the first points of the game on 28 minutes. Conversion was unsuccessful score line 5-0 to Aldwinians.
Huddersfield restart the game but a high tackle on an Aldwinians player gives penalty possession to the home side. Jess Stafford taps and goes forward with Anna Clarke doing the same from the recycled ball from the breakdown. Another scrum resulting from Aldwinians spilling the ball forward gives scrum possession back to Huddersfield. With the ball secured the away side made yards up the pitch to the Aldwinians 10 metre line but again the ball was not secured in the tackle resulting in it going forward for yet another scrum to the home side. Half time was looming and Aldwinians forwards were making progress down their left hand side towards the Huddersfield try line. Good carries from the pack and the away defensive line was coming under increasing pressure trying to keep the try line from being passed. After multiple tackles made close to the line Abi Jeffrey was the one the Huddersfield players could not halt and she scored just to the left hand side of the posts to take the score line to 10-0 Aldwinians. No further scores were made in the final minutes of the half so the half time score remained 10-0 to the home side.
Second half and Aldwinians received the ball from the restart and a similar pattern to the first half emerged with neither team managing to hold on to possession to create phases to build an attack from. Huddersfield were awarded a penalty just outside the Aldwinians 22 and the tall full back ran around the would be tacklers pressing to the try line 5 metres out down their own right hand side. Left wing Leanne Greenwood timed her tackle well and halted the move only 2 metres from the line saving a certain try for the visitors. The bitter cold conditions were taking their toll on all the players and it was mutually agreed to halt the game after 60 minutes.
A very close contest and credit to both sides for their participation.
Final Score 10-0 to Aldwinians.
Players of the match were:
Clinique Match Face Abi Jeffrey
Forward Nicole Livesey
Back Mattison Downs
Next game for Aldwinians is at local rivals Rochdale.