Lorne Ladies turn on the style

OBAN Ladies set off early for their first away fixture for this season’s BT Women’s National League 2 against Ardrossan Ladies. This team have just moved up from the development league but did prove to be a challenge.

After the journey it took a while for the players to settle, particularly as their experienced scrum half was taken ill during the journey leaving players playing out of position. But soon Oban were doing what they do best, using the width and demonstrating their pace.

The scrum featured a powerful Ardrossan pack, but glimmers of their inexperience did show through leaving the scrums well matched overall.

Outside centre Erika Skofca stood out in the back line as she made great headway up the middle of the pitch before fly half Lucy Stewart was rewarded with the opening try, having taken the ball from the back of a scrum. Shortly after, Skofca intercepted the ball to score a try herself.

As the cobwebs of the journey cleared and nerves settled, the Green Army were putting in big tackles and making use of the strategies they have been honing at training over recent weeks.

Ardrossan managed to keep Oban Ladies under control, with only two scores in the opening 20 minutes, but shortly after this Skofca burst through the defensive line once again, with the try afforded to winger Rachel MacDonald. This was quickly followed by a second try for Stewart.

As in last week’s game, the back line showed impressive handling and running skills, and after a string of convincing passes, MacDonald scored her second try of the match.

The tries kept coming thick and fast through the remainder of the game. Following an impressive run, back row Rebecca Sims executed a strong hand-off to keep Ardrossan tacklers at bay and secure a further five points.

This was followed by another try, this time for second row Veronica Speirs, who played an excellent game, repeatedly making massive hits and exhibiting great ball carrying skills.

Unfortunately, the ball was then dropped over the line after a scrum turn over, with a second attempt resulting in the ball being held up over the line. However, No 8 Camilla Leslie rallied team spirits once more with a deft pick up off the scrum to burst through and score.

At this point, the drizzle that had threatened to affect play from the opening whistle started to fall in more earnest and handling became scrappy, with frustration levels rising for the ladies in green.

Tidying up, the backs once again utilised the width of the pitch, this time for winger Ellen Barlow to score under the posts before captain Laura MacCormick, keen to lead by example, ran through two tackles to dive over the line once more.

The final try saw Skofca secure her hat-trick for the match, and unfortunately the game had to be called off early after an Ardrossan player received a nasty ankle injury.

This brought the final score to 0-65, leaving the Oban Ladies team still to concede a single point for this season so far.

Oban Lorne Ladies travel to Glasgow next weekend where they will take on the University team in the first round of the Sarah Beaney Cup.

Their next league game will take place at home on October 8 against Grangemouth, 2pm kick off.