Match Reports - -v- Hammersmith and Fulham 29.11.09

Hammersmith and Fulham Ladies 0 Wimbledon Ladies 26
 
Another Sunday of league fixtures, another Wimbledon Ladies win notched up.
 
The Ladies recorded their 8th straight league win on Sunday to move further points clear at the top of the league after a surprising defeat for 2nd placed Woodbridge at home to Portsmouth. The score suggests that the Dons had a comfortable day at the office against a Hammersmith and Fulham team who have struggled to achieve results this year but it was anything but that and credit must go to a spirited opposition team who made the Ladies work as hard as any other team has done this season.
 
The conditions were horrendous-wet, cold and windy, but the pitch was in surprisingly good state and the Ladies this year have often made a mockery of difficult conditions to play some of their best rugby. This Sunday though was all about hard graft against a Hammersmith team who showed a remarkable resemblance in their style of play to how the Dons were playing 18 months ago-plenty of effort, endeavor and glimpes of some good technical play but just lacking that killer instinct (and maybe confidence in their own ability) to convert their pressure into points.
 
Converting pressure into points has not been a problem for the Ladies in recent weeks with tries being scored from all angles and this game started off in similar fashion as the Ladies-following a kick by Gutti the went deep into the heart of the Hammersmith 22, opened the scoring with barely 2 minutes on the clock. The full back, coming across to cover, was unable to deal with a difficult rolling ball and after Olivia had made a metre or two to the line, it was Gutti who was able to pick up and cross for her 4th try in just 2 games. The try was unconverted from out wide but it was the start that the Ladies wanted and they were soon back pressurising the Hammersmith line with some good work from the backs and forwards making it over the gain line and creating space.
 
After some good work down the blind side by the backs and forwards combining, Sonic provided quick ball, space was created and Cheese stepped inside her opposite number, put on the after burners and made it all the way to line from halfway for the 2nd score of the afternoon. The try was converted and Wimbledon lead 12-0 after only 10 minutes despite the strong wind and intermittent rain.
 
The Ladies continued to press in part but were unable to build real momentum, partly as a result of some handling errors and partly as a result of a flow of penalties given against the girls for offside and various other indiscretions at the breakdown. The set-piece continued to work well but Hammersmith began to get a foothold in the game and make half chances of their own. Making good use of their pack who were running straight and hard around the sides at the breakdown, Hammersmith began to push the Ladies back and created the odd overlap out wide that they failed to take full advantage of or were thwarted by the brave and effective tackling of Olivia and Carol who were letting little or nothing past them.
 
The rest of the half continued in much the same fashion as Wimbledon defended reasonably comfortable against whatever was thrown at them by Hammersmith but failed to really fashion clear chances of their own. There was however one score left in the half.
 
Kate Whittaker has really grown into her role at full-back, defending well when required but also carrying a big threat in an open field when the play has broken down- it was in a similar situation that try number 3 came about. After some forward pressure in the Hammersmith 22, the ball was kicked over the top to where Kate was covering- using her pace and ability to go past players, she stepped through the Hammersmith defence and crossed over the line in the corner after rounding the full back. Gutti converted from out wide with a fantastic kick and the Dons took a 19-0 lead into half time with a fitting score with which to end the half.
 
The second half was a frustrating affair for the Dons as Hammersmith really came into the game and the half was largely played in the middle 3rd of the field, with neither side really to exert any influence on the game. It was Wimbledon who created the better chances with the only score coming from Olivia following good work from the whole team to create the space outwide and the in-form winger was able to outstrip the covering defence to score. Gutti once again was successful with the conversion to make the score 26-0 but playing into the wind and with the weather getting worse as the half progressed, it made conditions just that little bit more difficult to play the running rugby that has served so well this year and instead the game became a war of attrition, fought out close to the break down.
 
There was one further chance to score and get a bonus point win following a good break but Sarah was unable to get over the line with some good defensive work and it probably would have been slightly harsh on a Hammersmith team who showed a lot of good play second half without really threatening to get back into the match. All in all though, for a match played out in difficult conditions, away from home against a determined opposition, the Ladies must be pleased with the win and maintaining that unbeaten league record.
 
It is testament to how far they have come that there was an air of disappointment amongst some players that they had been unable to reach the highs of the week before against Woodbridge but, as various results have shown this season, anybody can beat anybody in this league and it is important to get those scrappy wins when you dont necessarily play your best rugby. There are plenty of positives about the way the Ladies dug in and protected their line-limiting the attack to no more than half chances despite some good work from the opposition pack- (in fact no team has breached the Wimbledon line since Ealing did back in October in a 42-5 win).
 
Next up is Reading at Beverley Meads next weekend for the final league game before Christmas. Another 4 points will set the Ladies up perfectly before the resumption of league hostilities in the New Year as they face a tough trip to Portsmouth on 10 Jan who surprised many with their win at Woodbridge yesterday but the league table looks rather healthy at the moment with 8 wins from 8.