Ladies just lose out to Supermarine

LOUGHBOROUGH LADIES 31

SUPERMARINE 34 LOUGHBOROUGH Ladies played host to Championship North One newcomers Supermarine at Derby Road playing fields, the visitors making the trek from Swindon were promoted to the North set up this season after previously playing in Championship Two South.

The Loughborough Town side , after having several of the starting XV move up to the newly formed Premiership set up of Loughborough Lightning, gave starts to no fewer than six new signings this season with a further four on the bench.

The home side got off to a flyer with full back Emma Dootson going over the try line converted by Maria Crowfoot for a first minute lead of 7-0. The visitors replied with a try of their own six minutes later. Loughborough lost one of their debutants when a Hooker and former Supermarine player had to leave the field due to a shoulder injury allowing 18-year-old Issy Drexler to make her first senior appearance.

Centre Alex Macdonald took the lead out to 14-5 with a trade mark junking run from 40m out. Supermarine stunned the home side when a crazy 15-minute period saw them score three tries, converting one, to take the lead for the first time 22-15 before another debutant Daphne Fromes closed the gap to 22-19 at half time.

Loughborough got of to the worst start in the second period allowing the visitors to extend their lead with a converted try after barely four minutes to 29-19.

A 15-minute period where Loughborough were unable to get any flowing rugby proved to be the turning point, twice the home side came back from a 10-point deficit, Fromes added her second of the game, converted by Crowfoot on 62 minutes, only for Supermarine take it back to 10 points difference on 67 minutes, a yellow card for an off the ball tackle saw the visitors reduced to 14.

Loughborough turned up the pressure and were rewarded with another debutant in Cailin-jo Tyler evading several tackle attempts to run in under the posts, Crowfoot converting to bring it back to a three-point difference. Loughborough dominated the last exchanges as the visitors fought a desperate rear guard and in the last play of the game, when it looked certain that the home side would score the ball unfortunately went to ground and the knock on signalled the final whistle to give Supermarine the win 31-34.

Disappointed that they could not close the game out with the win it was non the less a credible performance from a side that only came together six weeks ago, and with more players set to return and more signings expected they will take the two losing bonus points, work harder in training and look forward to their next game the Derby fixture away to West Bridgford next Sunday.

Loughborough Town are building the Girls and Ladies sections and are specially keen to hear from 13 to 18-year-olds and anyone wishing to take up rugby by contacting them on their Facebook page.