Wimbledon Ladies 10 Reading Ladies 0
Wimbledon Ladies retained their unbeaten league start to the season with a scrappy but ultimately satisfying win against a tough and competitive Reading team. The win leaves the Ladies sitting extremely pretty at the top of the table going into the Christmas break but this was a well earned and hard-fought for win and one that showed the dogged nature that the Dons can adopt when called for.
Both tries came from Olivia in the first half as the Dons huffed and puffed but were frequently thwarted by some good defensive work and a little bit of overeagerness to finish off the chances that they created. The return fixture at the start of the season had finished in a resounding away win but Reading have really got it together in recent weeks and after pushing Woodbridge close a few weeks ago, they carried a threat going into this game that the Ladies had to be wary of.
Played out on wet and soggy ground, as is the par for the course at the moment, it was a bright and breezy day at Beverley Meads and kicking off into the sun and the wind, the game started in exactly the way the Dons wanted as they applied early pressure and forced Reading into conceding a number of early penalties for their indiscretions at the break down. It was from a penalty that the Ladies got the opening score by Olivia who touched down following some good recycling work from the forwards. The penalty was won under the sticks but turning down the chance to kick at goal, the Ladies actually turned the ball over allowing Reading to partially clear their lines to Kate at full back. She ran the ball back into the Reading 22, Wimbledon went through the phases and eventually the defence was pulled across and the gap and overlap were opened up on the Ladies right to allow Olivia to show her pace and beat the covering defence on the outside. The try went unconverted to leave the score 5-0 but it was just the start the Dons had looked for.
Unfortunately the Dons were unable to build on the early score as Reading came strongly into the game and both defences were making scoring opportunities hard to come by. Reading have a big, experienced pack and were using that and the favouring wind to good effect to keep the game tight. They were also making good use of the strong running of the outside centre and the boot of the fly-half to keep the Ladies pinned back and prevent any real platform with which to build upon.
Olivia made a mockery of the lack of territory at the end of the 1st half though.
Turned over ball is always the most effective with which to attack from as there is a dis-organised defence and space to exploit and so it proved for the 2nd try of the game. Reading were working hard on the edge of the Ladies 22, playing some phases and seeking to create space but without really looking like they were about to put in that killer pass that would lead to a score. Wimbledon did a good job of soaking up the pressure and eventually were able to isolate a runner and turn the ball over in the tackle, it was sent immediately to Olivia who pinned her ears back and ran the 75 metres to the try line to make the score 10-0- again the try was uncoverted from out-wide but it was a good end to a hard fought first half.
The 2nd half was a little more open as both teams did create some gaps to send runners through but a combination of good tackling and the odd dropped ball or forward pass meant that there was no scoring. Mandie in particular was a little unlucky not to be credited with the 3rd try as the ball was adjudged to have been passed forward from Gutti to her. It was a marginal decision and could have gone either but the Ladies must be pleased with the effort that they put in- and Reading too, as both teams worked exceptionally hard 2nd half to close the space down. Credit must go to Reading for that too as there were very few missed tackles and they were able to prevent the back row of Wimbledon from really making the ground that they usually do.
Reading did threaten again as the match drew to a close but Anya showed impressive pace to catch and then tackle the breaking Reading player and the Ladies were pleased to hear the final whistle to close out a ninth league win of the campaign and without conceding points again. That is now 5 fixtures from which the Ladies have kept clean sheets this year and they head into the New Year in high spirits and eager to continue their run of form. There is still a friendly fixture against London Welsh on the 20th December to play but league fixtures resume on the 10 January with a tough trip to a much improved Portsmouth team in what will be another tough examination of the Ladies title credentials. The new year also sees a number of friendly fixtures against teams that the Ladies will be hoping to face week in week out next year in league games but all in all, they must be delighted with their first 3 months work to this season and the club must be very proud of all involved.
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