Murrayfield magic as Biggar win Plate
Biggar Rugby Club coach John Bogle says his side kept their best performance until last as they beat Ayr 36-22 at Murrayfield to claim a league and National Plate double.
In front of a huge Biggar support, the ladies were never behind in the game and in out-scoring their opponents y six tries to three, served note of their intentions in National 1, where they will face Ayr on league duty.
Fielding the strongest squad they could muster, including internationalists Emma Orr and Kirsty Ritchie, Biggar pressurised the Ayr squad in just about every area, except scrum.
Gerry Kimm notched Biggar’s first try, and while Orr was unable to convert that score, she tagged the points on Kimm’s second try, and her third, to give them a 19-0 lead.
Erin Mcsorley pulled a try back for Ayr on the half-hour, with Orr getting a hand to block the attempted conversion.
Biggar ended the half with a fourth try, with Alyson Henderson, Alison Orr and Anna Forsyth making good ground, and space was created for Abi Baillie to free Emelia Knights for a run to the line.
Emma Orr’s conversion for a 26-5 lead brought the half to a close.
Emma Orr and Ritchie scored further tries for Biggar, with Alice Wilson pulling another back for Ayr, leaving the score at 36-10.
Hannah Young scored another try for Ayr, converted by Catherine Sheddon, and Robyn Gibson scored in the corner, but it was consolation.
Having won the West Regional League, it has been a good season for Biggar, and coach John Bogle has been delighted.
He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. The girls have been excellent. We knew we had a fairly talented squad and set a season goal of promotion, and a go at the Plate, and we’ve got both.
“They probably played their best rugby on Saturday, stuff we’ve been trying to get them to play all year. “What a day to bring it all out! It was good.
“They’ll get a rest now, and we’ll spend the summer preparing for National 1.
“There is some real talent coming through this year, so our job is to be promoted again.
“Biggar can then offer the whole package to these upand-coming young ladies.”
• Under-18 internationalist Emma Orr has also been selected for Scotland’s Women’s Sevens, and will take part in the HSBC World Sevens Series in Toulouse this weekend.