Ladies rally to earn comeback win
SOUTHPORT RFC witnessed a great game of rugby between two teams, who both play with spirit and passion and are not frightened to use the ball.
Southport scored early with a well taken dart down the blind side from Natasha Rouffignac following a good set scrum by the forwards. The Kendal backs tackled admirably but it was the 9 who got the ball down out on the right wing. Unfortunately, Jenny Carney just missed on the conversion to leave the score 5-0.
Southport were unlucky when Michelle Larkin read an intercept and darted under the posts, and the full back Tamara Benson stepped up to make it 7-5 to Kendal.
After 62 minutes, Southport went back on to the scoresheet following a powerful drive from Gemma Hurst, who took the ball into contact and again the speedy 9 Rouffignac, and scored in front of the clubhouse to make it 10-7.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Southport went down to 14 players following a period of penalties. Fantastic tackling by Sian Meath and Katie Macdonald and runs by the centres kept Kendal pinned back in their half.
Constant pressure from Meghan Montgomery and Rouffignac ended in Kendal giving away a penalty right in front of the posts with four minutes remaining. Carney slotted the ball straight through the middle.
Unfortunately, the game was delayed due to an injury to one of the Kendal players.
A well-deserved home win for the young team places Southport third in the table with two games to go. They are at home on Sunday against Birkenhead Park Ladies.
The Colts effectively finished their league programme at Chester, losing 62-5 to the likely champions.