Women's 1st XV - West of Scotland

Oban Lorne Ladies team played at home today at 2pm  against West of Scotland. The team were hoping  to redeem themselves after a heavy defeat away to West ( 64-5 )earlier this season. Although  shorter on numbers due to players carrying injuries, players out of position and 2 new players on the field we were all up for the challenge.  Big shout out to both our  Ellie’s (McInnes and Picken) for getting thrown in at new positions and more than holding their own ,also to our two girls playing for the first time and smashing it Rebekah Palmer and Abby Hess. The ladies showed from the start they were going to fight hard and spent the first quarter of play inside Wests half working hard closing down the line play after play.  Clean passing and  good runs kept Oban with the ball managing to get it over the try  line twice with strong carriers Julie Campbell and Ellie Picken only to be held up on both occasions. 

Unfortunately errors started to creep into Oban’s play and we started giving away penalty’s allowing West into the game. West managed to get the ball out to there 15 who scored two break away try’s deep into the first half.  Oban composed themselves and settled down into play again and the whole team fought hard with good repeated set play to get the ball over the line in the hands of strong forward carrier Caitlin Fowler.   Half time score 5-14

Oban let sloppy play creep back in at the start of the second half conceding wasteful penalties and allowing west to  gain momentum, West broke through and scored again. Caitlin fowler was unlucky and  received a team yellow card for multiple high tackles by the team.  Oban dug deep and settled back down and had some good ball steals, one that saw Poppy McKillop burst through multiple players on the west defence to score a brilliant break away try.  Impact players Jodi Millar and Rachel MacDonald joined us in the second half  and momentum was building from both teams.  A stolen line out and Some good link work with the backs saw Oban’s Ellie MacInnes loop round onto the wing and tear up the park scoring a cracking try.  West again managed to gain the advantage from a few mistakes by Oban which saw them fight hard creeping closer and closer to the Oban try line and eventually breaking over it for there final try. West also had a try held up that Arden Binnie managed to get underneath. Oban then settled and were back on the attack in wests 22 in the dying minutes of the game, strong runs and carries saw them get the ball over the line again for what we thought was a try for Julie Campbell only to be told it was held up and the final whistle blew. Final Score Oban 15- West of Scotland 26. Oban slightly deflated but very  proud of the hard shift and work the team put in and a much improved performance on the last time the two sides met. Although another  frustrating result similar to our  last two with a narrow 2 point and 3 point defeat we will continue to fight on and work hard at training. Oban awarded back of the match to our amazing speed machine Poppy McKillop and forward of the match to big hits and strong carrier Jodi Millar and West awarded player of the match to number 8, Lindsay MacMillan.