Sunday 21st March 2010

Peffermill played host for the first time this season to The Vets and welcomed the visitors from Grangemouth, a team which was sitting right behind RDVC in the table. The match had added importance as it was declared a double header. RDVC were missing influential lineout jumper Tash Rivera due to glandular fever, however, they welcomed back Caroline Scobie into the team as well as wing Kiri Shallcross.

RDVC got off to the perfect start when top try scorer, Lottie Gaunt, ran the ball down the right wing to open the scoring shortly after the 1 minute mark. However, only 4 minutes later Grangemouth replied with a well worked move between their strong running 12 and 11 which resulted in the score being tied.

On the 11 minute mark Hannah Buchanan showed her pace down the right wing leaving the Grangemouth defence trailing behind her for the Vets to take the lead again. This was to be followed 5 minutes later by Gaunts’ second of the day. The score remained the same for a good 15 minutes during which the Vets running rugby was clearly taking its toll on the much heavier Grangemouth pack. The RDVC more mobile pack was making it to the breakdowns first and scrum half, Fiona Potts, was keeping the ball and point of attack moving well linking up with Siobhan Garner.

31 minutes of the first half saw Grangemouth get back into the match with a try to make the score 15-10 leading into the break and the last 10 minutes of the half were played at a high tempo and with some real determination. However, the Vets were not finished in the first half. Siobhan Garner scored the first of her two tries 2 minutes after Grangemouth crept back into the match, breaking away from two tackles in midfield to score an excellent individual try at a time when the game could have gone either way. Another 2 minutes passed when Hèlouise Archambault, who is probably playing her last league match for RDVC before returning to Quebec in the summer, ran straight through the Grangemouth defence from near the half way line to make the score at halftime 25-10.

The half time whistle brought a timely break as tempers were beginning to fray in some camps. RDVC, however, were soon back on the onslaught when on 49 minutes Caroline Scobie, who showed some strong running throughout the game, broke through and crossed over, with Archambault getting her first of four conversions. Archbambault then converted her second try of the day on 56 minutes which was the result of some great support play to allow Garner to drop an inside pass to her.

Grangemouth again got back into the match on 66 minutes. RDVC put up some really good defence, especially around the fringes, however, the Grangemouth 12 took full advantage of the referees blindside to handle the ball back in the ruck 3 times. This allowed Scotland A prop, Mhairi Forsyth to cross over with a classic prop forward try much to the annoyance of the RDVC bench who were aware of the previous infringement which the official had no chance of catching due to the bodies in the way.

Spurred on by their feeling of injustice, RDVC went up the pitch and scored probably their best try of the day on 73 minutes. With the Grangemouth forwards feeling the pace, Archambault showed great determination and fitness to, stay with, and then get onto, the end of a lovely offload from fullback Gaunt who broke the first line of defence with style.

However, in what proved to be a hectic last 10 minutes, Grangemouth, who were exercising the dual registration clause with guest appearances from Nadine Heard and Jenn Chowaniec from Broughton, went straight down to the RDVC line and scored a good try with excellent support from guest player Heard on 75 minutes.

Not to be outdone, and always keen to get the last word, RDVC struck back on the 79th minute when Garner exploited a gap against her opposite number and powered over from just inside the 22 to make the final score 53-22.

A great win for RDVC saw some excellent performances all over the park. Lottie Gaunt showed some excellent attacking lines as well as some try saving tackles, both wings, Sarah Matthews and Kiri Shallcross were unlucky not to get on the outside of their opposite numbers on a few occasions. Centres Fenella Johnson and Hannah Buchanan led the defensive line well after initial concerns, this prevented much of the Grangemouth attacks who looked to utilise their strong 12. Garner controlled the game well again at 10 and she now seems to have gained an appetite for exploiting any gaps left by her opposite number. Scrum Half, Fiona Potts, kept the point of attack moving and linked well with Garner.

A Man of the Match performance from departing No.8 Archambault highlighted where RDVC will have a big gap to fill next season. Archambault’s strong running and exceptional fitness saw her really take advantage in the 2nd half with some great support play as well as a good kicking display. Back row colleagues Scobie and Wardle put in good performances with Wardle showing some potential at the lineout and Scobie exercising her typically determined running style. The front 5 of Benson, McLean, Fisher, Kenny and Williams stuck in really well against a much bigger pack and won some key rucks due to their will to get to the break downs first. The front row, although sore in the morning, can take special praise for their performance which technically outshone the experienced and larger Grangemouth front row. The girls will have taken great heart from the complaints of boring and going in on angles that were shot down by the referee who officiated the scrum in an exceptional manner.