Stewartry Sirens welcomed Garioch for their first home Tennent’s National League Division One (Women) game of the season on Saturday.
Both teams wanted to build on their winning starts but the Sirens were without some regulars due to injuries and other commitments. This allowed opportunities for others to start with Claire Cannon on the bench for her first ever game.
The Sirens stated their intentions straight from the kick-off with some strong hard running from Ali Henderson, Claire Barnes and Clare Dooley all making in-roads into the visitors defensive line. The Garioch defensive line held up, though it was creaking, with Sirens forwards running tight and then releasing Louisa Ramsey, Hannah Sainsbury and Donna Burns to work the edges.
After 15 minutes of almost constant attack the visitors’ defence was breached when Phaedra Snailham used her pace and strength to beat several players and ground the ball in the corner. The conversion attempt from Claire Manson was missed.
The Sirens lineout was functioning well with Kerys Milven, ably assisted by Dawn Currie and Lauren Nicholson, taking her own ball and spoiling the visitors throw in. With another attack being set-up by the forwards the ball was moved wide and with Phaedra Snailham almost making the line for her second try but the ball was recycled and passed to Kirsty Yates who powered her way through a couple of defenders and over the line for the Sirens second score. The conversion was missed.
With 30 minutes gone the game changed with almost Garioch’s first foray into the Sirens half. A loose kick was picked up and with some slick off-loading the visitors scored, unfortunately Kerys Milven was injured during play and was unable to play any further part in the game. This forced a re-shuffle in the Sirens team, with Claire Cannon taking to the pitch. The Sirens enjoyed a 10-5 lead at half-time.
Garioch started the second half where they had left off, with their high tempo off-loading game coming to the fore. It didn’t take long before the visitors crossed the Sirens line to bring the scores level. The try was converted and the visitors were leading.
With their tales up and a belief that the game was theirs to win, Garioch went in search of a third score and it came not long after through more high tempo play when the visitors weaved their way through the Sirens defence to score. The try was unconverted.
The game settled somewhat with the Sirens pack dominating the visitors in the scrum with Lizzie Ballentine, Dawn Currie and Lauren Nicholson leading the way in making it difficult for Garioch to work with clean ball. That allowed F Shedden in at scrum half to harass her opposite number.
With 10 minutes to go Sirens wrestled their way into the visitors half again through strong runs battering the visitors line and, from a ruck, the ball came out to Jade Stewart who spotted space between two defenders and charged between them to score the Sirens third try of the game. Unfortunately the conversion was missed by the smallest of margins.
Sirens are always open to new players if you fancy giving rugby a go. For more details visit www.stewartryrugby.co.uk
