Kirkcaldy Ladies 31 - 10 Hillhead Jordanhill
The sun was shining bright in Kirkcaldy on Sunday, a welcome change after the ladies pervious home game. Kirkcaldy ladies took to the park ready to play a strong team game with plenty of communication. Starting the game playing into the bright sun caused a few problems for Kirkcaldy but with good communication from the first whistle the ladies started a tough game that would ultimately lead to them securing a solid win.
The ladies worked themselves hard in the first 10 minutes shipping the ball from one side of the pitch to the other rather than punching up the middle of the park but this was soon realised and rectified. Hillhead opened the scoring fighting hard against the solid Kirkcaldy defence and eventually finding themselves able to drive over the line for a try in the corner.  Kirkcaldy did not let the heads go down, as they have done previously, but instead began to pick up the intensity. Louise Moffat soon saw an opportunity to even up the score and, after receiving a quality pass from the back of a ruck from Val O'Neil, Moffat put in a solid run and avoided two defenders to find herself scoring in the corner of the pitch.

Both teams worked solidly until the half time whistle which was welcomed by both sides. Half time score was 5 - 5 and it was anybody’s game.

After a quick pep talk half time was over and both sides took to the pitch both looking for the win. Kirkcaldy, now with the sun on their backs, began the second half strong. With the opening kick from Hillhead not quite making the 10 Kirkcaldy opted for a scrum which was well won by the hardworking forwards and off loaded to the backs who sought out the gaps on the wing. Soon Kirkcaldy were dominating another ruck and a quick pick and go from Louise Moffat saw the spaces open up for her. A quick one two with Julie Sanaghan and the ball back in to Moffat saw her, yet again, fight her way to the line. This time the try was confidently converted by Valerie O’Neil.

Kirkcaldy’s team play soon became evident as both forwards and back alike were fighting hard for the ball. Kirkcaldy soon found themselves in the Hillhead half but had to work hard to progress up the pitch with Hillhead putting in hard tackles. A scrum on the five meter line was awarded to Hillhead for a knock on from Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy’s slightly altered scrum due to prop Downer going off due to injury did not faze the forwards as they drove the scrum with determination and Kirstie 'Mac’ McIntosh soon found the ball at her feet. With excellent vision Mac found the line and dived (dove/belly flopped) over the line for her first try of the season.

Hillhead were still very much in the game and were working Kirkcaldy’s defensive line constantly. Hillhead’s hard work was soon to be rewarded when they found themselves over the line once again taking the score to 17 -10.  Kirkcaldy were determined to not allow niggles which lost them their previous home game creep into this one and continued to communicate and play some well thought out quality rugby.

The centres saw plenty of ball this game with Sandra Laird and Ashley ‘Bash’ Manuel proving themselves as a fantastic hardworking partnership on more than one occasion. Laird saw her first try of the season after receiving a quick pass from 10. A dummy and quick pirouette saw Laird place the ball over the line. The try was converted by O’Neil.
Not to be outdone by her partner in crime Bash was soon after a try of her own. Some quality running throughout the game was soon to be rewarded as she found herself receiving the ball after a solid forward drive and quick hands through the backs. Hungry for the line Bash soon found it and took her first try of the season and her first try in the premier league cementing herself as player of the day.

Both teams worked solidly until the final whistle with Hillhead hungry to gain further points. They worked their way up the pitch and a couple of penalties given by Kirkcaldy nearly found them giving Hillhead a try. Belinski was fighting for her second try of the day but it wasn’t to be as Ruth Poole and Captain Katie Sheridan managed to get their hands under the ball to hold up the try. The final whistle blew with both teams exhausted after a high tempo, hard hitting game.

Final score was 31- 10.

Kirkcaldy Ladies

1. Katie Sheridan (Captain)
2. Fiona Milne
3. Tracey Downer
4. Val Zubriggen
5. Kate Latimer (Vice Captain)
6. Jenny ‘Rocket’ Campbell
7. Kirstie ‘Mac’ McIntosh
8. Louise Moffat
9. Val O’Neil
10. Julie Sanaghan
11. Ruth Poole
12. Sandra Laird
13. Ashley ‘Bash’ Manuel
14. Kirsty Tennent
15. Linda Morrison

16. Karen Wallace
17. Gemma Forsyth (Courtesy of Grangemouth - Thank you!)
18. Mhairi Forsyth (Courtesy of Grangemouth - Thank you!)