Lorne Ladies lose first try of the season in away game at Royal Dick Vet College
SUNDAY December 3 saw a reduced squad of ladies travelling to Peffermill in Edinburgh to take on RDVC. With no subs available, it was bound to be a tougher game than the ladies had experienced to date, particularly with people arriving late due to navigational issues and their coach unable to travel.
Oban played well in the first half though, forcing multiple penalties from their opposition. The first of these allowed the visitors to attack into the oppositions’ 22 and outside centre Erika Skofca scored the first try after six minutes, successfully converted by fly half Lucy Stewart.
After a penalty to RDVC, Oban fought hard to secure a turn over ball and used their speed and handling skills to reach winger Ellen Barlow who drove over the line for try number two.
Following on from a big hit by Skofca, inside winger Rachel MacDonald scored next, this time converted by prop Ellie MacNiven. Four minutes later, the ladies scored again following a scrum and Skofca diving over the line once more to extend her impressive tally of points scored this season.
Supporters have been impressed by the ladies’ performance in the league to date, willing them to maintain their record of zero points against. But Oban conceded their first points of the season to RDVC following a penalty, with only two minutes of the first half remaining. Nevertheless, the Green Army did not let this disappointment affect their performance, retaliating with a final try, and hattrick for Skofca, before the half time whistle, bringing the score to 7-35 at half time.
The second half saw the visitors in green mainly kept in their own half, playing a defensive game against a spurred on RDVC squad, awarded penalty after scrum after penalty. Despite this, the ladies successfully defended their try line from any other attacks during the game and Skofca carried on her impressive show of both teamwork and individual skill with another three tries to her name.
Conditions were cold as the game played out and the ladies thank the Oban Lorne men’s team players that stepped in to offer support and guidance from the sidelines in what proved to be a tough match in the absence of their usual coaching team. The final touchdown of the game was secured by Stewart, successfully converting her own try to bring the final score to 7-61.
Next weekend the squad travel to Aberdeen to take on the Aberdeenshire Quines in their final match before Christmas. They return to home ground on Sunday January 14 against Ardrossan Women, 2pm kick off.
The ladies train every Tuesday and Thursday 6-7pm, with training on the astro pitch at Oban High School until Christmas due to waterlogged pitches at Glencruitten. Everyone welcome.