Southport Rugby Club Ladies enjoys resounding victory over Vagabond

Southport Rugby Football Club Match Report by Jonny Lambe

Southport Ladies v Vagabond Ladies

The home side came into this fixture top of the league with two wins from two matches but without key players, inside centre Pip Birchall who had been selected to represent Ireland rugby league against Wales and fly half Faye Gaskin who is supporting her.

The visitors had played one game less and sit 4th in the table after winning their first fixture of the season.

Vagabond Ladies got us underway, but it was Southport who were first on the scoreboard. Inside centre and player of the match Amelia McKeown broke from the lineout and beat four players with quick footwork to score the first try of the match and score the conversion with ease to put the home side 7-0 up.

The contest had evened out with mistakes on both sides with possession going back and forth. With about half an hour played, it was McKeown again with a defence splitting drive to the line just between the posts to make it 12-0 to Southport with the conversion falling short of the posts.

It was captain Laura Walton’s turn to drive through the defence holding off the Vagabond forwards before offloading the ball to scrum half Francesca Rouffignac to run from 40 metres and score the try between the posts giving McKeown an easy conversion, 19-0.

It was the away sides turn to apply some pressure just before the break but a penalty kick from 10 metres did not find touch and great chasing from Olivia Jessup meant the ball was overturned. A nice passing sequence followed, finding McKeown who skipped past the defenders tackles to score her hattrick of tries and converts the kick to make it 26-0 at halftime.

Second Half

Southport begun the second half the same way they started the first, with Vagabond pinned in their own 22, with a nice passing phase, Rouffignac holds off the oppositions efforts to stop her as third-row forward Morgan Griffiths receives the ball to score the try, conversion again scored by Southport’s number 12, 31-0.

With the succession of knock on’s throughout by both sides, the scrums were influential in who would win this game and it was Southport’s strong work in the scrum all game, turning the ball over and maintaining pressure on their opponents.

A penalty to Southport after a high tackle and an accurate kick from McKeown to touch meant a line out inside their 22. The lineout was won by Southport, telling of their domination, the ball was held up in a maul and it was the captain Walton who broke from the maul and dots down in the corner to make it 36-0. A tough angle for the kick and the score stayed the same.

Southport’s number 21 Natalie Burns received a yellow card for repeat offences after coming on as a substitute and had to wait in the sin bin to return to the contest.

After Southport’s domination it was Vagabond’s turn to get on the scoreboard following a very strong, controversial tackle to dispossess Jessup. The away side broke away with strong running from the forwards and it was Jess Swales who bundled the ball over the line and converted the kick to bring the score line to 36-7.

With 10 minutes left to play, after the game was unfortunately stopped due to a bad injury, the hosts seventh try of the game was scored by Griffiths after many phases, the ball was bundled over the line in the corner after defensive resistance, the conversion was short, 41-7.

From kick off the ball was caught by Mckeown who played it to Jasmine Mcardle, the number 13 ran half the pitch on the outside to score the 8th and final try right under the posts. Mckeown ended her scoring with an accurate conversion to bring the final score to 48-7.

It was a resounding victory for Southport Ladies who dominated and were in control from the very first minute with a strong defence and tricky players who just proved too much for Vagabond Ladies. It is Southport’s third win from three matches and adds to a very strong start to the season in the Women’s NC 1 North West.

We would like to thank Alex Fusco from Facilit8 for sponsoring us. We appreciate the support we get from the club.

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