Sun 13 Oct 2019, 14:30
Abbey Nuns continued to establish themselves as the top women's rugby side in Berkshire with a gutsy win over Guildford in the first meeting between the sides in two seasons. In an impressive display of rugby from both teams, the final score line was decided by half-time, with a scoreless second half showcasing the defensive potential of both squads.
It was the Nuns who applied early pressure to the visitors with intelligent kicking from captain Annette Bevan and fly-half Abi Wall pinning Guildford back inside their own half. The Nuns' defence was good, forcing easy turnovers which soon resulted in a swing in attacking play; good handling skills from centres Alice Denton and Karen Pacho allowing winger Caroline Shepherd to cross in the corner for the home side's first try.
After an early lead, the Nuns lost some composure as a team and the number of handling errors mounted, allowing Guildford to get a foothold on the game through a series of scrums. The visitors' strong forwards tested the Nuns defensive systems, which was led by new signing this season Karen Pacho, keeping Guildford at bay. Shephard was unlucky to complete her brace after a quick turnover allowed her to hare down the wing, stopped by a determined tackle from Guildford's full back.
Eventually, Guildford broke their deadlock by intercepting a loose pass between the Abbey backs, and their fly-half Gracie New showed a good turn of pace to dot down under the posts; scoring a try that was duly converted. Moments later however, a solid Abbey scrum, a stronghold of the Nuns' game, allowed Number Eight Annabel Hawkins and scrum-half Ellie Rice to release Bevan on a well-worked move, who crossed to pull her side back into the lead once more.
The second half saw Abbey enjoy most of the possession and territory but the home side were unable to turn these into additional points; careless handling errors impeded their game and their closest attempt at scoring came through good forward phases led by flankers Fern Edgar and Alice Lawrence, the latter of whom was held up over the line. Substitutes Fi Manning and Jess Williams made good impact when they entered the fray but it was Abbey's defensive efforts once more that thwarted Guildford from equalising; when Guildford flanker Spencer Hastings broke the line from a second interception pass, the home side's scramble defence was good enough to force an error and see out the match as winners.
Abbey Nuns 1st XV have a week off this weekend while the 2nd XV host Aylesbury at home on Sunday, 2.30pm kick-off.
