Away win at Bath

SMOBL travelled to Lambridge Training ground to face the newly formed Bath IIs for their last fixture of 2015. After losing players to injury and numerous festival formalities, SMOBL took a small squad of 16 to face the ever growing Bath team, of which included a handful of first team players who were without a fixture that weekend.

After some readjustments to the usual line up with centre Laura Rugman moving into the backrow, Shauna Brain stepping into hooker from her usual tighthead position and Harriet Quick and Johanna Collier making their starting debuts at second row and full back respectively, SMOBL chose to receive the KO. It was clear from the offset that Bath’s experienced players would play a pivotal role in this game and Mary’s, slow to switch on, lost ball too easily in the breakdown area. Kyara Martin was inspiring at flanker, making hard tackles, clearing out rucks and working well with number 8 Kirsty Fido with strong ball carrying breaking down the Bath defence with bruising hits. Mary’s soon pinned the home side into their own half and kept them there for the majority of the first half, with impressive handling in the backs mounting pressure on the home side’s defence. However, come half time the score line was at a deadlock, 0-0, with everything to play for in the second half.

The second half started much as the 1st ended, Mary’s keeping having possession but not being able to capitalise and score. Centre Jo Smith was formidable in defence and ran great lines to break through the defensive line. The opening score came from the home side using their pacey backs to run in a well worked try and leaving SMOBL in unfamiliar territory, behind with little opportunities to score. The SMOBL pack began to up the intensity with Sophie McKenzie, Abigail Meredith and Sarah Wray along with Quick and Brain carrying out the less glamourous tasks around the pitch, securing ball and providing quick ball for scrum half Nicole Crowley. Mary’s first try came when centre Smith made a fantastic run only to be tackled short of the line, however, great support play and quick pick and go ball allowed Smith to realign herself in attack and fly over the whitewash.

Mary’s second try came when the home side were caught low on numbers on the blind side and after quick hands winger Lauren Matthews turned on the gas to run the length of the pitch to score her first try for SMOBL. After a change of personnel, intensity of the game changed with Victoria Shakespeare impressing following her return from injury and moves between number 8 and fly half Lucy Bowering working well off the back of a scrum allowing Mary’s to release their dangerous backline. Lisa Larsen was as powerful as ever with bursting runs down the wing but it was hooker Brain who broke through the line and offloaded to Martin who went under the posts to score which was easily converted by Smith. The final blow came when fullback Chloe Tucker chased a long downfield kick, running around multiple defenders to finish off a great individual try to seal a Mary’s 22-7 win.

Mary’s strong finish in for the year leaves them in a strong position in the league and look forward to kick-starting their season in the New Year with a home match against Yeovil on 10 Jan. Coach Barry Stone said “I am very happy with the first half of the season’s performance and pleased to be sat just behind Sodbury in second place. We are looking forward to meeting them in the New Year......”

SMOBL are always recruiting new players, of any age or capability, so whether you’ve played before or new to game contact Kirsty Fido at kirstyfido@rocketmail.com or find us on Twitter @SMOBL or on Facebook: St Mary’s O.B. Ladies for further details.

Player of the Match: Shauna Brain
Coaches Player: Jo Smith