England win but Scots do themselves proud.
32-0 might have been the final score, but Scotland’s women can be largely proud of their performance at Broadwood Stadium in their, very wet, opening 6 Nations match against the ‘Auld Enemy’.
From the kick off, Scotland attacked and put a bit of pressure on the English defence, but once the ball was in the visitors’ hands, it looked like it was going to be a re-run of all the other matches between the two. England easily advanced into the Scots’ 22, and fired the ball wide to wing, Lotte Clapp, but her opposing wing, Megan Gaffney put in a tremendous tackle on Clapp and held on until No. 10 Lisa Martin joined in and forced the ball out of play.
From Scotland’s clearance, England came right back, but their driving maul was halted on the line and then turned over when they were penalised. With Gaffney and centre, Lisa Thomson, causing problems for the visitors’ defence , Scotland are looking as if they might be the first to score, but the ball gets turned over, ending the move.
With just over 15 minutes played, Scotland had England scrambling in their own five-metre zone, but the ball is cleared and the Scots have to start again from the lineout. However, England are starting to exert a bit of dominance on the match through their bigger pack and, with just over 25 minutes played, centre, Lauren Cattell blasts through a big hole in the home defence to score the first try. The conversion is missed by No. 10 Amber Reed, so the score stays at 5-0.
The next five, or so, minutes test the Scots’ defence to its limits, England missing a penalty, but with 33 minutes on the clock, England score their second try. The pack force their way over the line, but the ball is ‘held up’ giving a five-metre scrum to England. Their second foray across the line is more successful as the ball is grounded for the try, Harriet Millar-Mills emerging from the pile of bodies with the ball. The kick is successful this time and the score stretches out to 12-0.
The remainder of the half is fairly evenly matched. But, just on half time, England score from a penalty to leave the teams going into the break 15-0 to England.
Scotland are then awarded an early penalty which is taken, and missed, by hooker, Lana Skeldon, and England take the chance clear their lines.
Scotland then win lineout ball from the opposition, but they get turned over and the English backs once again get the ball down near the Scots’ line. They get turned over, though, and Gaffney makes a good break up the line, but, she’s lacking support and England turn over the ball again and set off. A well worked passing move later, Reed sails through another big gap and touches down for the try. She somehow misses her kick from just to the left of the posts, but 20-0 is the score.
The Scottish side are now coming under increasing pressure and England’s fourth try comes courtesy of a rolling maul five minutes later. The conversion from Reed, once again, drifts wide, but at 25-0 and 25 minutes left to play, it looks like game over.
Despite a couple of interesting looking forays in attack – a fine break from wing, Rhona Lloyd, standing out – Scotland are very much on the defensive and, with less than five minutes to play, the visitors score their sixth try. A clearing kick is charged down a few metres out from the Scots’ line and No. 22, Lucy Demaine is on hand to collect the loose ball and go over for the final try. Reed adds the extras and the score, as the clock runs down to the final whistle is 32-0.
This was a fine performance from the Scots, let down by the odd dropped ball and missed pass, but they could have – and should have – scored in the first half when they had England pinned back on their line. Still, given the relative rankings of the sides, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Scots and a decent performance was probably the best they were going to get from the match.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
