Enniskillen Ladies rugby team played Queens Ladies at the weekend, Queens were the team that beat Enniskillen in the final of the ulster cup at the end of last season. From the comprehensive victory in the final queens travelled short a couple of players and their thoughts certainly would have been of victory. However a few months and the start of a new season have turned Enniskillen ladies into a very different proposition.
Enniskillen kicked off into Queens 22 and put them under severe pressure making them attack from deep as they were playing into a very strong wind. Queens were positive and went through many phases without ever managing to create anything. Unlike the Sligo match skins tackling and pressure on the opposition backline was text book and eventually this yielded a turn over which skins turned into a try.
Enniskillen then went to sleep and from the restart skins turned over the ball in their half when a number of chances to kick the ball down field into queens 22 went a begging. So for the next 15 minutes skins defended with bodies on the line mentality. On the only notable time a queens player broke skins full back came across and cruelly shut down any chance of scoring with a bone crunching tackle.
Skins eventually gained some quality possession and slowly made their way down pitch into the queens 22. From here skins start to gain a lot more possession going through many phases of play and got over for their second try. The restart was managed better and play never really threatened to get into skins 22 for the remainder of the half. Most of the play was Enniskillen executing their game plan going through multiple phases which lead to another Enniskillen score to lead 19-0 at the break.
The second half was very stop start with numerous Queens’s girls picking up knocks. Between all the stoppages skins played some very good rugby, forwards and backs combining well, half backs varying a running and kicking game and the outside backs moving the ball well when they had the opportunity and counter attacked really well from some poor kicking from Queens and got in for 3 more tries. To their credit Queens got in for a consolation score just before the final whistle (their 14) probably their best player to leave the final score 34-5.
To note Enniskillen old girl Gemma McCutcheon had a fine game and great to see developing into a very good player. Hopefully we’ll see her back in the colours of Enniskillen in seasons to come.
The level of play went up a couple of levels since the Sligo game and the team can be really proud of what they achieved on Sunday. However a number of scoring chances were missed and on other days these chances will have to be taken. From the coaches point of view our attacking and defence processes are coming very well and there are many positives to take from Sunday but some definite areas to work on but.
Enniskillen ladies are away to Harlequin’s ladies this Sunday, 1.00pm is the scheduled kick of time.
