Broughton lift the RBS Bowl

In a pulsating Bowl Final in front of a sizeable support from both Clubs, many in fancy dress from the Pink & White contingent, it took a late lung-bursting 60 yard try from Ivana McConnell to secure the silverware for the Edinburgh side.

Ayr Ladies, in their first competitive season, kicked off with the sun behind their backs however it was Broughton who lit up the Final with an opening score within the opening few minutes.

Fine play by the Broughton forwards saw the ball finally work along the backline to Amy Neill and the pint sized Full Back beat Emily Irving in the footrace to the corner, despite a desperate collar grabbing last-ditch tackle from the Scotland player. 5-0.

Broughton were dealt an early blow when winger Vicky Allan had to be helped from the field after sustaining knee ligament damage, forcing an early change.

Ayr rallied and it took a sustained period of dogged defending from the Wardie forwards to deny the National 2 runners-up a try.

That wall of Wardie resilience was however breached in the 25th minute. The battering rams of the Ayr front row finally creating an opening and it was scrum half Niamh Durnan who dived over the line. Her try was converted to take the seasiders into a 5-7 lead.

The lead changed hands once again in the 37th minute, an advantage that Broughton didn’t surrender for a second time.

A ruck just inside the Ayr 22 gave the Broughton pack a platform to build on. Ceri Lynn received the ball out wide and after evading the clutches of Ayr’s Pheobe McDowell, there was no stopping the flying winger who raced in for a score. 10-7.

Half Time: Broughton 10-7 Ayr

Broughton were awarded a chance to extend their lead after an Ayr infringement however Kinghorn couldn’t direct her penalty kick between the uprights.

The tension on the touchlines was at fever pitch as the game balanced on a knife edge. Both packs were playing a war of attrition in the tight whilst the backs were like pawns in a game of chess, carefully sussing out their next key move.

That came with 5 minutes left on the clock and it was to see the Bowl head its way back along the M9.

Substitute Ivana McConnell collected the ball inside her own half before pinning her ears back and producing a try worthy of winning any of the Finals being played on the day either at Dalziel or 20 miles away at Cumbernauld.

The travelling support from the Capital went wild. Player of the Match Stacey Donaldson kept her composure before slotting the conversion between the sticks to secure a historic victory for Broughton.

Final Score: Broughton 17-7 Ayr

After the final whistle, both sides made their way over to the main pitch for the presentations. Broughton collected the Bowl at the end of their transformational rebuilding year and Ayr picking up the plaudits after reaching the Final and securing second place in National 2 in their inaugural season.

All in all, a great advert for grassroots rugby. Same time next year Ladies?

Broughton Team: Amy Neill, Catriona Quirie, Ceri Lynn, Stacey Donaldson, Vicky Allan, Laura Kinghorn, Nicky Gaskell, Rebecca Long, Roz Galloway, Steph Fleming, Susan Culver, Morven Murray, Ciara Choinneain, Ann Cooper & Jennifer Harris (captain). Subs: Sharon Forsyth, Anna McFarlane, Marie Penman, Ivana McConnell, Lauren MacArthur.