Mermaids/Sandbach 31-5 Caldy
The first official game of the season for the Mermaids was on a very hot Sunday afternoon at home against Caldy. Sandbach joined forces with the Colwyn Bay Mermaids to field fifteen to face the team from the Wirral. The team was nicknamed ‘Sandwyn Bay’ by the players. Joely Benton of the Mermaids suffered a recurrence of her ankle injury in the first 30 seconds and had to leave the field. This and the initial makeshift nature of the combined teams resulted in a lot of moving and shaking among the players and positions. The first 20 minutes were very scrappy and disjointed; the Mermaids and Sandbach taking time to get used to each other’s styles. Despite this, most play was in the Caldy 22, with breaks being taken for several Caldy injuries. Then after 20 minutes the pinks’ game suddenly got a lot better – they were crossing the gain line with virtually every phase and the supporting play was great. The sustained pressure was rewarded with Mermaids’ Captain for the day Anna Parkin scoring a well worked try out wide; Jane Owen added the conversion. This revitalised the Mermaids and after several attacks on the Caldy line utility-forward Sarah Johnston danced through four tacklers to score under the posts, with another conversion by Owen.
Due to the heat a lot of fluids were taken on at half time, and the players and positions mixed and changed. Caldy came out of the blocks quickly after the break, with their player-of-the-match Trudy sprinting up the wing to score their try. This galvanised the Mermaids with the tries seemingly streaming through; Sandbach player Thea powered over the try line after the ball was run through the hands, followed by Colwyn Bay scrum-half Abi Beards coming close to scoring but offloading at the crucial moment to Emma Beaumont for her to dive under the uprights which was converted by Owen. Then in the last few moments of the game Sandbach’s Naeve dodged several would-be defenders to score the final try of the game.
The match was a great success, with some great rugby being played by both sides, the match turning in the last half to a fast flowing game of entertaining rugby. The Mermaids would like to thank the Sandbach players very much for collaborating in order to field a full XV for the first time in 3 seasons! The coaches would like to give a special mention to Sarah Johnston and Emma Beaumont. Sarah as always was doing well in winning the ball in the scrum and putting in some smashing tackles and fighting for the ball in the loose. Emma Beaumont had a wonderful match making her transition from the back division into the forwards and possibly finding her position in rugby life in the back row.
The score line possibly does not do justice to Caldy who put in a sturdy performance to a more experienced unit. They should be a force to contend with in the future.
The first official game of the season for the Mermaids was on a very hot Sunday afternoon at home against Caldy. Sandbach joined forces with the Colwyn Bay Mermaids to field fifteen to face the team from the Wirral. The team was nicknamed ‘Sandwyn Bay’ by the players. Joely Benton of the Mermaids suffered a recurrence of her ankle injury in the first 30 seconds and had to leave the field. This and the initial makeshift nature of the combined teams resulted in a lot of moving and shaking among the players and positions. The first 20 minutes were very scrappy and disjointed; the Mermaids and Sandbach taking time to get used to each other’s styles. Despite this, most play was in the Caldy 22, with breaks being taken for several Caldy injuries. Then after 20 minutes the pinks’ game suddenly got a lot better – they were crossing the gain line with virtually every phase and the supporting play was great. The sustained pressure was rewarded with Mermaids’ Captain for the day Anna Parkin scoring a well worked try out wide; Jane Owen added the conversion. This revitalised the Mermaids and after several attacks on the Caldy line utility-forward Sarah Johnston danced through four tacklers to score under the posts, with another conversion by Owen.
Due to the heat a lot of fluids were taken on at half time, and the players and positions mixed and changed. Caldy came out of the blocks quickly after the break, with their player-of-the-match Trudy sprinting up the wing to score their try. This galvanised the Mermaids with the tries seemingly streaming through; Sandbach player Thea powered over the try line after the ball was run through the hands, followed by Colwyn Bay scrum-half Abi Beards coming close to scoring but offloading at the crucial moment to Emma Beaumont for her to dive under the uprights which was converted by Owen. Then in the last few moments of the game Sandbach’s Naeve dodged several would-be defenders to score the final try of the game.
The match was a great success, with some great rugby being played by both sides, the match turning in the last half to a fast flowing game of entertaining rugby. The Mermaids would like to thank the Sandbach players very much for collaborating in order to field a full XV for the first time in 3 seasons! The coaches would like to give a special mention to Sarah Johnston and Emma Beaumont. Sarah as always was doing well in winning the ball in the scrum and putting in some smashing tackles and fighting for the ball in the loose. Emma Beaumont had a wonderful match making her transition from the back division into the forwards and possibly finding her position in rugby life in the back row.
The score line possibly does not do justice to Caldy who put in a sturdy performance to a more experienced unit. They should be a force to contend with in the future.
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