Ladies bounce back
Enniskillen Ladies 1st XV – 24
Navan Ladies 1st XV – 0
Enniskillen Ladies welcomed Navan Ladies to Mullaghmeen on a sunny Sunday afternoon for their first home fixture of the All Ireland League (Division II North). Skins knew they had to put in a much improved performance from their previous match away to Queens at the end of September. With Navan having been relegated from Division I, Skins knew they were to face stern opposition.
Skins started out well & gradually took hold of the game especially at the scrum. Skins held firm & pushed the Navan pack back all day, creating a great platform to run off. Skins held Navan in their half for long spells & knew the score was soon to come. In a desperate attack, Navan kicked from their own 22 only for the ball to land in the hands of Skins nimble full back Etna Flannagan, who ran round several Navan players at cheetah like speed to score under the post. The conversion was added by Caoimhe Morris.
From the restart Skins kept up the same intensity & Navan struggled to gain possession from that point on. Great running from the back line & strong rucking from all players across the park ensured Skins kept play flowing. When Navan did get hold of the ball Skins defence held firm. Text book tackles coming in from Shauna Hall who cut down any Navan runner who came near her!!
Navans indiscipline was beginning to show with the penalties racking up. From a quick tap & go, in a moment of madness the Navan player tripped up the Skins scrum half, giving her 10 minutes in the bin. Skins knew they must capitalise on this advantage & soon another score came. Off a strong scrum, the ball was spun out to the backs & another trademark weaving run from Etna Flannagan saw her get her second score of the game, with the extra points added by Morris.
The half ended 14-0. With the half time team talk from Coach Cathcart, Skins knew they had to keep working to the same intensity in the second half. Skins played well & ran good phases of play together with forward runners always giving options for the half backs to utilise. As a result of Skins dominance another score came. A scrum won against the head, Collette McMorrow picked from No.8 to hit it up in the centre, well rucked out by the supporting forwards. The ball was then shipped out to the centre Shauna Hall who looked to be in for a certain try only to be taken out by a high tackle on the line. Hall still managing to place the ball over the line however the whistle had already been blown & the try was disallowed. Skins took the penalty quickly & Helen Carleton popped the ball to eager Collette McMorrow for the touch down. While Skins were getting ready for the restart, Navan then got another player binned for chat back to the referee.
Skins knew they had to be more clinical in attack & hammered away in search of the score that would give them the bonus point win. With a strong run from Shauna McMorrow she broke through the Navan defence, still with plenty of work to do she powered through with 4 Navan players in hot persuit, McMorrow managed to hold them off & dive over for her first league try & the bonus point win. With the final score 24-0 this was a well deserved win for the Skins girls.
Many thanks to those who turned up to support. Skins wish Brenda Brogan & Caoimhe Morris speedy recoveries & congratulate players who reshuffled into unfamiliar positions.
Training continues Tuesday & Friday 6:30pm at Mullaghmeen. Enniskillen Ladies are always looking for new recruits, so if you’re interested in giving rugby a go, contact Noreen on 07853008860. Ladies next match is home to Garda, Saturday 27th October, KO 14:30.
The club are holding a Halloween fancy-dress party on 27th October with prizes for best outfit. Tickets are £10 & can be purchased from Clare Brogan or David Taylor
