Double Chillies for Ladies

This weekend saw the second game of the season for the Grangemouth Ladies against a well driled team from Madras RFC in St Andrews. Due to the visitors only managing to field 14 players it was agreed that the match would be played with 14 players each. After a very even start, it was the visitors who were to show their speed and ability in a youthfull back division, with a well worked move which led to a try being scored near to the grangemouth posts. The extra points were duly converted with a well taken conversion. This seemed to shake the Grangemouth forwards into action and their size and dominance in set pieces was to become a feature of the remainder of the match. After several pick and go's, the Port side found that they were making inroads against the Madras forwards. This type of move led the home side up the park and to Elaine Acheson scoring her first try in 2 seasons, as she drove over from 5 yards. The conversion was successfully kicked by Claire Hagan.

Grangemouth spent the remainder of the half trying to continue with pick and go tactics, but were let down by poor rucking which allowed the Madras side to steal possession and create chances of their own. Regularly it was down to superb tackling by the back three to prevent Madras from scoring. This type of to and fro from both sides continued for the remainder of the half leaving the halftime score at 7-7.

The Second half started in brisk fashion with the Madras side on immediate attack and managed to charge down a clearance kick in the home 22 and reacted swiftly to gain the score. The conversion was missed to take the score to 7-12. In what seemed to be deja-vu, the Grangemouth Forwards again became aggressive and started to exert themselves and were camped on the visitors 5m line, Was it not for poor decision making the inevitable try would have come sooner, but come it did and again another 5m drive led to Elaine Acheson scored her second try. The conversion was again converted by Claire Hagan, taking Grangemouth to a valuable 2 point lead at 14-12.

Not content with with taking the lead, Grangemouth took the ball to the visitors 22m line and an excellent sniping run by Corrie McFarlane led to the scoring of a fine try. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 19-12 to the home side.

Madras came back very strongly and spent a long time in the Grangemouth 22, but excellent defence prevented the well drilled Madras ladies from scoring. The full time score was 19-12 to Grangemouth, their first win of the season. It was a fabulous team effort which showed massive improvement in nearly all aspects of their game, but in particular their defence and on that note a special mention has to go to Claire Davidson for an inspirational display in her defence which rightly led to her receiving the Player of the Match award.

Sadly however, two players received injuries which required hospital treatment, Hannah McCubbin had a severe cut in her leg that required 7 stitches and Laura Alexander suffered a broken ankle. Everyone at Grangemouth RFC wishes them a speedy recovery.

Next week the Ladies play Broughton in Edinburgh with 2pm start.