Newry women started their season last Sunday with an away trip to Malone for an Ulster Development League fixture. Malone adapted to the windy conditions better than the visitors and after some early pressure they were rewarded with a break away try which went unconverted. This concession galvanised the Newry girls into action and they spent the rest of the first half camped in the Malone 22 looking for that elusive first score. It eventually came when after multiple phases of Newry possession out-half Penny McGovern squeezed in at the corner flag to level the scores just before half time.
For shots of the Tiny Life sponsoring girsl CLICK HERE CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newry had the wind at their back in the second half and used it to good effect. Malone kept trying to run the ball out of defence but time and time again they were nailed by the blue line of Newry defenders. The Newry back row of Ashley Gilmore, Lauren Campbell and Rosie Quinn were superb in their defensive efforts winning vital turn-over ball on several occasions. One such turn-over resulted in centre Colleen Magee breaking several tackles and racing to the corner to score putting Newry into the lead. With the game finely posed and 10 minutes left on the clock Magee danced through the Malone defence to score again and the subsequent conversion by Penny McGovern was the final score of the game and left the finishing score line 17-5 in favour of Newry.
This was a fine win for the Newry women and they are now eagerly looking forward to their first home league fixture of the season next Sunday when they welcome Ballymoney to Telford Park.
Newry Womens XV: M Hankin, L Buchanan, K McGovern, D Gilmore, C Magee, A Gilmore, L Campbell, R Quinn, A Crozier, P McGovern, R Feehan, K Magee, H Burns, A Stevens, S Hetherton
Newry Ladies Cruise To Victory!
A trip to Newtownards was in store for the ladies on Sunday, in what would be a replay of last season defeat to a very well drilled Ards side. This fixture was a complete opposite to last seasons fixture as Newry proved the strongest all around the pitch. From the off Newry pilled on the pressure, it wasn’t to long before Newry crossed the try line, with a well drilled forward move by Rosita Quinn, Colleen Magee made the space to run into the corner, 5-0. Colleen was to get on the score sheet soon after as a solo effort from the restart, Colleen broke the defence and made the scores 10-0. Try of the game was scored by Chelsea Brennan, from open play and with nothing looking on, Chelsea punched through the Ards defence, avoiding two tackles and to sprint past the full back to score, to finish it of Penny McGovern kick a magnificent conversion, making it 17-0. It was then the Gilmore show, sisters Ashley and Danielle punished the Ards back line for miss tackles, Newry took full control of the game, 31-0. With moments remaining in the first half, a Ards try 10 metres from their own try line was turned over by a strong Newry pack, some quick decisions by scrum half Aine Crozier, breaking on the blind side and side stepping the winger, Newry went 36-0 at half time.
As Newry’s dominance grew, the Ards management decided to call the game quits as a competitive fixture and asked for a selection of Newry players to even the sides up. The challenge of playing against their own colleagues appeared to up the Ards ladies, it was the Newry ladies in red that did the damage, a wonderful solo run by Hannah Burn put Ards on the score sheet, 36-5. With another try from Ards, Newry finished the game victors, in only their third competitive fixture, that leaves them with two victories and one defeat this season so far. This Sunday coming, Newry Ladies welcome Letterkenny to Telford Park, having played them in two previous fixtures last season, Newry are aware of the threat posed, but following their magnificent victory on Sunday it will be a tight fixture.
Be Sociable, Share!
