Women's 1st XV - Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV
Oban Lorne Ladies were back in action this weekend against Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV Ladies. A 22 strong Oban squad took to a soggy home pitch ready to get their season back on track. With Oban set to receive Hills kicked to start the match. Caught by Julie Campbell Oban showed a glimmer of what was to come. Supported by Ardern Binnie, Campbell made ground by breaking through tackles before being brought down by the Hills pack. The Oban forwards added to this claiming more ground as returning scrum half Heather Fothergill and flanker Kayleigh Roche made their mark on the team with cohesion and powerful running. A few handling errors allowed Hills back into the game claiming possession and testing the Oban defence. It wasn’t long before Oban found themselves back with the ball and trucking it up with big forward runs from Caitlin Fowler and Jodi Millar. Inching closer to the oppositions try line Ellie Picken received the ball and planted it firmly on the line gaining the teams first 5 points.
A slight change in tactics from Hills saw them kick to make ground as they worked their way back into the game. One kick found itself in the capable hands of Amy Gibson as she glided through the Hills defence and scored her first try of the game. Converted by Ellie MacInnes this brought the score line to 12-0. Hills found their feet again and pushed back hard making a number of dangerous runs testing the Oban defence. Oban ladies had found their flow by this point and pushed back had keeping Hills pinned in their own half.
Some good phase play by Oban saw Heather Fothergill use her footwork and tenacity planting another try over the line bringing the score line to 17-0 before half time.
As the whistle blew to start the second half Oban’s backs started to command with Rebecca Sims and Poppy McKillop thoroughly testing Hills with powerful running and great communication. Amy Gibson again found herself with a gap and ripped up the pitch again scoring her second try of the day bringing the score to 22-0.
We welcomed Hannah Thompson to the field in the second half for her debut performance with the team who displayed some good runs and big hits. Along side impact players Anna Bain, Lee MacFadyen and Jordan MacIntyre also displaying some big hits and good hands.
There was some back and forth from both teams fighting hard to keep possession inside Obans half for a long period. Oban won the ball from a scrum on our 5m line and Amy Gibson made an outstanding run the length of the park bringing home our last try and securing her hatrick for the day. In the last ten with Hill’s fighting hard to get the ball over the line. Oban defended for very well in their 22 and prevented hills from getting over the line right up until the dying minute of the game where they fought hard and got the ball over the line bringing the final score to 27-5.
In summary after settling into the game an overall strong performance from the ladies with cohesion and communication building between the team.
Congratulations to player of the match Amy Gibson voted by hills and also securing Obans Back of the Match and to Jodi Millar for forward of the match.
Oban Lorne Ladies would like to thanks Travis Perkins for sponsoring the match along with all of our individual sponsors who continue to support the team and the club. Our next fixture is away to West of Scotland and we will be gearing up at training working hard for another strong performance next week. Oban Lorne Ladies would like to thanks Travis Perkins for sponsoring the match along with all of our individual sponsors who continue to support the team and the club. Our next fixture is away to West of Scotland and we will be gearing up at training working hard for another strong performance next week.
