7 up! Broughton Women’s Rugby teach Glasgow Students a lesson

Broughton Women’s Rugby maintained their unbeaten record with a 0-45 win on the road v Glasgow University.

After a traumatic drive across the M8 in the rain (and wrong turnings in town), the convoy of cars made it to Glasgow for this Premier C game at Garscube Sports Centre.

The rain had made conditions underfoot difficult however thankfully, for the travelling support, the weather was kinder during the 80 or so minutes of rugby.

It only took the Wardie foxes three minutes to open their account. A run by Deans broke the line of Uni defence and when Greer popped the ball to Kinghorn who went over the line from 5 metres. 0-5.

Broughton’s second try was of breathtaking quality. Candy stole the ball in a tackle and Gaskell made the initial hard yards to put the Students on the back foot. Billie switched play across the park and when Kinghorn put the gas on, she opened up the Uni back line before passing to Mad Dog who went in under the posts. Deans converted from bang in front. 0-12.

The scrum went uncontested after a 15th minute set-piece collapsed, forcing the Uni hooker to leave the field with a knackered shoulder.

Broughton continued to pressure the young Uni side and the pack bossed much of the play in the Uni 22. Gaskell was causing all sorts of problems in loose play and she made the space for Deans who showed tremendous upper-body strength to twist her way over the line for a try. Deans, in her first season of playing rugby, got up and slotted the extras. 0-19.

Half-time Glasgow Uni 0-19 Broughton

Both teams emerged from their half-time teamtalks keen to continue the good spirited game.

Broughton’s spirits were high when Mad Dog Neill secured a bonus point try early in the second half. ’Candy’ Brindley went on a rampaging run, bouncing students to the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. A quick offload to the supporting Cooper 5 metres out almost set up the back rower however as she was stopped in her tracks, the ball went to Neill who had the easy task of falling over the line. 0-24.

Laing piled on the points in the 63rd minute when she latched on to a loose ball and she blasted her way up the middle of the park to run in unopposed. Deans converted. 0-31.

With 10 minutes to go, Broughton were back on the scoresheet. Kinghorn went on a mazy run before kicking through an almost undefendable grubber in the soggy conditions. Kinghorn’s pace saw her win the foot race and the try was awarded once the Ref caught up with play! Deans the kicking machine converted. 0-38.

The game was almost done as the sun made an audacious attempt to breakthrough however there was still time for Broughton to have one final attack at the home tryline.

A Broughton forwards special saw Fleming take the ball up and once the pack had made the hard yards, it was up to the backs to take the glory once again! It was that girl Nuala Deans who capped a fine performance by running in from the 22 to slide between the posts to score her second and Broughton’s 7th of the afternoon. Her conversion was the last kick of the game.

Full Time: Glasgow Uni 0-45 Broughton

Post-match, both teams – well, almost all of the Broughton mob as some got lost – went to Campus, a bar in the City’s Sauchiehall Street. A big thank you to our hosts for fantastic hospitality, some of the finest experienced in recent times.

Man of the Match Awards:

From the Uni team – They selected Nuala Deans
From the Broughton team – It was Megan Greer

The least said about the drink-off the better….

Submitted by Mark Brown