Burry Port Ladies 39
Deri Diamonds RFC 12
AFTER a big win on the road at Merthyr RFC two weeks ago, Burry Port Ladies RFC (the Lady Blacks) were at home this week as they played host to Deri Diamonds RFC. A win on Sunday (Oct 30) would make it three in a row and, more importantly, would keep them in the mix for the top spot in the league.
Following a good training session earlier in the week, Burry Port were determined to come out firing for this game. It didn’t take them long to get their first score of the day. Some great handling from a turnover and aggressive ball carrying saw the home side’s pack able to make inroads into the visitors’ 22 and blindside flanker Alana Borthwick used her speed and power to bundle her way over out wide.
From the resulting kick off, Burry Port’s forwards once again went through the phases and took the ball forward a number of times. Some fast hands from Jenna Marshall allowed flanker-come-centre Catrina Bowen to run at a brilliant angle and use her pace to run in unopposed for the teams second try. The conversion was slotted by Keely Evans.
Five minutes later, Catrina Bowen found herself on the scoresheet once again after a similar piece of play saw her run in once again, this time out wider and from a shorter distance.
The Lady Blacks’ fourth try was created after a combination of good defensive skills from the forwards who turned Deri over. Some brilliant offloading skills by forwards and backs alike allowed home wing Alanah Powell to cross with ease. This was the last score of the first half, making the score 22 – 0 at half time.
The second half saw the visitors return to the field looking a lot more determined. They upped their game and put some good phases of play together. However, after all their hard work, they spilled the ball and home scrum half Keely Evans gathered it and danced her way through a number of defenders finding herself in open space all the way over the line for the teams fifth try of the afternoon. This was successfully converted by team captain Llinos Rees.
The visitors were next to get themselves on the scoreboard thanks to some good ball carrying in the Burry Port half. Their number eight ran a great angle to find herself tackled over the line for their first try, which was also converted. Burry Port conceded a few penalties and Deri managed to score another try as their flanker powered her way over.
Burry Port soon bounced back from a spell camped in their own half and outside half Betsan Ellis-Williams found herself with ball in hand near the Deri line and used good strength to cross the line.
With about five minutes left to play, Burry Port’s number eight and Captain Llinos Rees was able to take full advantage of the tired Deri defence as she gathered the ball and fought her way over out wide, beating three defenders in the process.
Overall, this was a fantastic result for the Lady Blacks and the coaches were very pleased to see them play through the phases and then spread the ball out wide, as well as their defence being very strong for long parts of the game. The team has come a very long way over the last year, as demonstrated by the togetherness and teamwork of the girls.
Player of the Match was Catrina Bowen.
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