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RIPLEY RHINOS LADIES XV 3-59 STONEYGATE LADIES 1st XV
FRIENDLY
Sunday 13th April 2008
After Newark couldn't put out a team for the scheduled league match, Rhinos took on Stoneygate Ladies from Leicester on a muddy Mill Hill pitch. It was clear from the intense warm-up the visitors went through that this wasn't their second string but they had sent their firsts, who are battling for promotion from a division two higher than Rhinos are in. Never ones to stand on ceremony, Ripley's players tore into their opposition from the kick off and did not give them an easy ride. The scrum was solid with hooker Gemma Geary regularly winning ball against the head and the Rhino tackling determined, led by skipper Claire Brickley. Stoneygate had some pace and experience in their backline but Rhinos kept taking them down, with scrum half Laura Blackwell-Moore getting through a lot of cover defence until the visitors eventually scored their first try after ten minutes. Rhinos weren't fazed and some strong runs from the pack saw them awarded a penalty inside the visitors 22 and Blackwell-Moore stepped up to coolly kick the goal to reduce the deficit to 7-3. Stoneygate had the majority of the possession for the rest of the half but only managed two more scores to go into the break 21-3 ahead.
Rhino's defensive effort was superb but they were tiring as Stoneygate began to get their runners coming from deep at pace as the second half wore on. Geary was like a player possessed, putting her body on the line to secure any loose ball for Ripley and fly half Lou Ellis always had a clever option to get her team going forward with it. Blackwell-Moore was everywhere in defence and attack, followed by Brickley setting the example for her team. Stoneygate managed a couple more tries before the hour to stretch their lead but then for some reason decided to add an unnecessary feistiness to the match. Ripley weren't prepared to take a backwards step and gave them more than they imagined in return to show they weren't to be bullied by their higher ranked opponents. The home side's legs tired in the last ten minutes and Stoneygate ran in four tries to put a lopsided 59-3 scoreline on a match that the visitors deserved to win but not by such a margin.
Rhinos can be proud of their efforts, beaten by the better, faster team but at no times did they give them anything easier and certainly gave Stoneygate a tougher match than they expected. The player of the match award went to scrum half Laura Blackwell-Moore whose pitch coverage was superb and shone out across the pitch.
Rhino's rugby training for both men and women is from now back under natural light from 6.45pm-8pm on Thursdays at the back of the Beehive pub in Ripley - all new players are welcome - for more details ring 07816 779018.