Sun 10 Nov 2019
Abbey Nuns travelled to Fullerians, one of the leagues newest teams, looking to extend their current good form and were met with a challenging game which they pulled away in in the second half, scoring eight tries in total.
It was a welcome return from university for winger Anais Carbon, who scored a first-half hat-trick and gave a physical defensive performance in the second. She combined well with her back-three pairing of Frankie Taylor and Pippa Robinson to test the Fullerians defence.
However, the start of the game was less than ideal as prop Beth Andrews succumbed to a nasty ankle injury in the opening ten minutes, which has since required a hospital stay and operation, so the team had to regroup after vice-captain Tish Maybanks accompanied her to hospital. Commendably, the Nuns played the rest of the game with a bare fifteen players, looking to secure the win for their injured comrade.
It was Beth's prop partner, Jess Potter, who also crossed for a fourth first-half try, which Fullerians responded to with two of their own from their pacey fullback. The Abbey Nuns forward pack was immense, with Fullerians crediting it as one of the best scrum they have ever faced, and new signings Hannah Bosher and Sarah Odenbach carried well. Ellie Brooks jumped magnificently in the lineout and skipper Meg Turnell kept her team on the front foot by half time, 10-22.
In the second half, the lack of subs began to show as Fullerians raced in another two tries. Turnell rallied her troops to turn the screw and fullback Caz Shepherd and centre Jess Williams did exactly that; pulling off a sublime out-the-back offload for Williams to dot down under the posts. This encouraged the Nuns to close out the game in the second half with a brace from Shepherd herself, an eighth from Robinson. Shepherd also had a fine half from the tee, converting all four tries.
It was another encouraging performance from the 2nd XV, who have a local derby this Sunday in the Rams Sirens. The 1st XV also host Plymouth Albion ladies at home, both games kick off at 2.30pm.
