Aylesford Bulls Ladies 2XV 10 - Old Dunstonians Ladies 30
Mar
The Old Dunstonian Ladies rugby team finished off a fantastic season in style against Aylesford Bulls II, winning 30-10, to seal their place at the top of South East East 3 in their first season in the leagues. The visitors attacked well straight from kick off to take the ball through a series of phases down towards the try line. Strong defence from the Bulls kept the ODs from scoring following several attacks from the OD backline and some good mauling from the OD forward pack. Despite this initial pressure it was the home side that scored first following some quick rucking to win turnover ball, which they were able to ship out to their fast winger who scored under the post. This first passage of play was then repeated from the re-start, which was well chased up by the OD pack, with the visitors retaining the majority of possession and playing the stronger rugby only to lose ball in the ruck for Aylesford to run in their second try, this time off the opposite wing.
Despite being 10-0 down the ODs kept their composure and continued the pressure. Quickly learning from their mistakes the OD pack began to compete with strength in the rucks, getting there quicker in numbers to not only win their own ball but gain turnover ball on occasion too. This gave scrum half Louise Dennis the opportunity to pick up and go round two players to score in the corner for the visitor’s first points to bring the score back to 10-5 at half time.
This score, and the solid first half performance, gave the ODs renewed confidence as the whistle blew for the second half. Great scrummaging from the OD pack allowed the backs, led by fly half Alex Tyson, to run several well executed moves taking them close to the tryline to put the home side under even greater pressure. The OD attack forced the Bulls to give away a series of penalties, which eventually led to a try by Alex Tyson, who powered over from close quarters to level the score.
Now well and truly back in the game the ODs attacked with even more force. From the re-start Alex Tyson took the ball cleanly and shipped it out to Louise Freds at inside centre from the first breakdown, who was able to burst through the defence to take the ODs into the lead for the first time in the match. This marked the turnaround and from then on it was the away side who retained the majority of possession. Louise Freds scored her second try from a well worked switch with the fly half and this was followed up with two more tries from Louise Dennis out wide to give the Old Dunstonian Ladies their final victory of the league this season. This superb team performance marked the end of a fantastic season for this relatively new side that seem certain to gain promotion into South East East 2 next year.
The ladies will now enjoy a short break before summer training starts and they compete in the Women’s Kent Cup in May. To find out more about the Old Dunstonian Ladies visit www.odrfc.co.uk or contact Louise Dennis on 07976 175 978.
