Penryn Ladies away to Plymstock Oaks - Sunday 17th October
Penryn travelled across the Tamar with a strong squad of twenty one players to come away with a bonus point win, beating Plymstock Oaks 24-27.
The Cornish side chased well from the kick off and put some great initial pressure on the home team keeping them pinned in their half for the opening minutes. However, the home side were relentless in their attack and with some strong rucking were able to eventually work the ball towards the try line and were rewarded with the first points of the match with a break through forwards try that was not converted.
Penryn were quick to respond. Following a few passages of interplay between forward and backs, they were able to release the ball into space on the wing for Blanchard to run round her opposite number to score out wide to level the points, sadly this was not converted either.
The home team forwards came out fighting from kick off this time and their physicality at the breakdown lead to a penalty five metres out from the Penryn line. Despite valiantly holding the Plymstock oaks scrum on the line, the break from the following scrum proved too strong to stop and the home side took the lead again and finished the first half 10-5 up.
Penryn started the second half strong and dominated the scrums however a few handling errors saw Plymstock Oaks take possession and they were able to spin the ball out wide to their rapid winger who ran round the outside to score under the posts, allowing for a successful conversion. Penryn were not ready to concede the game yet and immediately returned the points with a well worked try down the line to give Read the space she needed to run in under the posts so that Rickard was able to convert.
This was the confidence boost Penryn needed. Their forwards began to compete in the rucks to secure fast ball for the backs to break the gain line and work the ball forward towards the try line from the kick off. It was the visitors pressure this time that earned them a series of penalties on the line, which allowed prop Evans to drive through and score, the conversion was narrowly missed.
The home side refused to give up and were rewarded with another converted try from a series of forward carries but it was the visitors that owned the second half. They battered the Plymstock defence relentlessly, which allowed Evans to go over again from a well worked penalty to score her second of the match. The backs then came alive again in the final stages of the match to set Read up for her second try to eventually seal the victory. The final score, 24-27 giving Penryn Ladies their second bonus point win of the season so far.
Match Report: Louise Dennis
