Dorchester Ladies Rugby team enjoyed their first league win of the season beating Old Reds at Coburg Road on Sunday. The game was played in near perfect conditions and after their narrow defeat last week Dorchester made a determined start with a try from inside centre Emma Curran who crashed through the Old Reds tackles to score in the corner, the conversion was narrowly missed.
Dorchester then suffered a major setback when inspirational player/coach Sam Wilson had to leave the field with a hand injury, however, replacement Jo Clayton linked in well with fellow second row and man of the match Jade Kerslake and Dorchester continued to pressure the Old Reds line. The forwards solid platform eventually led to another try with good handling by outside centre Ashlee Payne to put winger CJ Collingwood in for her first try of the afternoon.
Old Reds responded with two tries of their own, neither of which were converted, making it 10-10 at the interval.
Both teams started the second half strongly but it was Dorchester who broke the deadlock when scrum half Caty Muller put in Curran for her second try. Again, Reds responded with a try of their own levelling the scores once more at 15-15.
It was Dorchester’s superior fitness and determination to win the game that led to Collingwood’s second try, good linking between forwards and backs and impressive passing made for an easy run in for the speedy winger. The try was superbly converted by Dorchester’s fly half.
In the last 20 minutes Dorchester continued to pressure the defence and spent the majority of the time in their opponents half. Number 8 Liz Lewis picked up from the back of a scrum on the 22 and crashed over to score the final try of the game.
After a shaky start to the season Dorchester have improved with each game and next Sunday travel to Bristol to take on St. Marys Old Boys.
Man of the match, Caty Muller and Jade Kerslake
Acheson Construction man of the match:
