Topsham Ladies 56-5 Withycombe Ladies 16-09-18

Topsham’s ladies secured their second win of the season with an emphatic win over Withycombe. The local derby, on home soil, saw outside centre, Rebecca Partridge, score her first hat-trick of the game within the first 10 minutes!

After a comfortable 19-0 lead, the home side relaxed into the game and started showing the skills and structure they’ve worked so hard on in training. A series of handling errors, however, led to a successful attacking campaign by Withycombe, resulting in a well deserved try. Both teams came back well from the restart and spent a good period of the half battling for possession. Whilst evenly matched in the ruck, it was Topsham ladies who retained most of the ball and the second half saw a series of superb attacking lines from the home side. Tries came thick and fast; Partridge secured a further two tries and sealed the game following a run from inside her own half. Whilst forwards, Meg Coombes, Tasha Currie, Sophie Kukor and Kerry Ackerman, all got on the score sheet, with new girl Emily Owen scoring her first ever try in only her 2nd ever match! Fly-Half Ann Webb was awarded back of the match for some excellent backs organisation and passing accuracy, which set up most of the tries and utility player Laura Harris secured a well deserved forward of the match award for her efforts around the field; filling in around the park where players had picked up injuries.

Special mentions must go to new players Sue French and Kirstie Parker who pulled on Topsham shirts for the first time, alongside brand new players Aimee Hunter and Lydia Robinson who played their first ever game today. All four players are a credit to the side and fit in superbly.

The Topsham coach applauded the team’s progression throughout the game “…it’s great to see the team evolve from start to 80 minutes. We began fast and frenetic, but after we’d settled, the structure and team play really shone and the positive feedback from the supporters was a real confidence boost…”

The final score of 56-5 means Topsham have scored 122 points from just 2 matches and conceded only 22. A great start to a season, which will hopefully be a successful one for the ladies.

Topsham RFC host the annual Devon Ladies 10’s tournament next weekend on 23rd September. Feel free to come along and support your local side and if you’re interested in playing rugby it will be an ideal opportunity to meet most of the local teams.