Wimbledon Ladies 17 Portsmouth Ladies 5
Messrs Hansen, Lawrenson and Lineker often comment how teams who have aspirations to win a league need to have the ability to ‘win ugly’. Well Wimbledon Ladies certainly seem to have adopted that ability after a hard fought scrappy win over a bruising and determined Portsmouth side at Beverley Meads on Sunday.
In the away fixture that was played towards the end of last season, the Dons produced an irresistible brand of running rugby that had Portsmouth chasing shadows and a 50 point score-line in favour of the Ladies. It was always going to be hard to re-create that dynamic, flowing rugby in the wet and windy conditions that made handling difficult but credit must also go to the visitors who put up far greater resistance than had been previously.
Traditionally a team that struggles on the road, Portsmouth were out to warm up early showing a clear intent to try and get over their away day struggles and indeed started the game in determined fashion. Plenty of questions were asked of the Dons defence early on but they were all answered by the whole team and in particular the back-row combination of the irrepressible CJ, Jen van der Eem and Randy.
Having defended for the first 10 minutes, the Ladies began to put together their own moves and gain yards around the sides of the rucks and mauls. Some hard direct running around the break down gained yards and space and it didn’t take long for the first try to arrive, Mandy Jones touching down in the corner after some good work had pulled the Portsmouth defence in and created space out wide which the backs made good use of. The try served to show the dominance that Wimbledon had when getting the ball wide. Gutty was unable to convert but the momentum was now with Wimbledon and they took full advantage.
Good carrying from the forwards, including Anna and Marie, created quick ball in the middle of the field but with plenty still to do, Foxy took centre stage. Running a superb angle from outside centre and hitting the line with pace, a short popped ball from Cheese and Foxy was through a gap that had opened up in the Portsmouth defence. From 40 metres out there was no stopping her and she was under the posts for the 2nd try, even Mr Nightingale was unable to keep up this time as Foxy stormed in! Converted by Gutty, Wimbledon now lead 12-0 and were looking good value for it.
Portsmouth rallied and the game became a tight affair for a period until just before the half finished. Again the ball came out wide and Olivia, who had an impressive game in a very unfamiliar position on the wing, burst through the struggling Portsmouth defence. With still a lot to do, she showed good pace to outstrip the cover and score the 3rd try on the stroke of half time. Gutty was unable to convert but with a 17-0 half time lead and the weather improving, Wimbledon went into the half with eyes on a bonus point win and more points in the second half.
Sadly, Portsmouth, who had been looking ragged at the end of the 1st half, came out in much better shape for the 2nd half and took the game to the Dons Ladies. Wimbledon failed to build on their half time lead and the play became scrappy and mistake ridden. A few good positions were spoilt by what seemed like a constant stream of penalties but the defence held firm in the face of the Portsmouth pressure. Some good cover defence and useful clearing by Gutty with the boot saw the try line remain intact for the majority of the second half.
As the half progressed though, Wimbledon became ragged in both their play and discipline. Forced to make a change when Imo went down with what turned out to be a broken clavicle, the Ladies were increasingly relying on their set piece play to control the game as Portsmouth improved. Unable to make ground in attack with rare exceptions when Cheese and then Gutty made ground, the Ladies were causing themselves more problems with penalty after penalty being conceded at the breakdown and it was from one of the penalties that Portsmouth finally broke through with 5 minutes remaining.
Good work from the Portsmouth forwards saw them break through the first line of defence , the try being scored after an offload to one of the forwards who had run a good line and could not be stopped as she crossed. The try was unconverted but Portsmouth came back again looking for another try to set up a nervous finish. More penalties were conceded and more warnings were issued to the Wimbledon Ladies about their play at the breakdown as they were pushed back. The referee, who had been very fair with both sides all game, finally lost patience and with a minute remaining, Randy was yellow carded for one indiscretion too many, meaning the Dons would have to finish the game with 14.
There was time for one more break out from the Dons centres but the move broke down in midfield meaning Wimbledon just missed out on the bonus point win but there are plenty of positives to take out the win that keeps the Ladies at the top of their league with three wins from three. Portsmouth were a much tougher proposition than they were at the end of last season but the Ladies must be confident that with players coming back, they will continue to improve and maintain the momentum that they are building.
Player of the Match- Foxy- her direct running and handling caused problems for the Portsmouth defence all game and was topped off by a superb try.
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