Topsham Ladies welcomed St Mary’s Old Boys (SMOB) Ladies to bonfire field on Sunday for the first time in the club’s history. Conditions were far from perfect and if it wasn’t for the club’s new drainage system, the game probably wouldn’t have gone ahead.

Under stand in skipper Ann-Marie McIntyre, Topsham chose to play into the wind and rain in the first half. With Topsham missing 2 from the front row in Meg Coombes to work commitments and usual captain Sophie Jones to injury, this was going to be an area they had to dominate from the start.

SMOB Ladies started off the stronger team. After a knock on at the kick off they regained possession and with some neat passages of play they worked there way into Topsham’s 22. Topsham’s defence stayed firm though, as it so often does, but after 10 minutes of constant pressure a gap opened up down the left hand side and SMOB Ladies scored in the corner on 10 minutes (0-5). Missed conversion. This gave Topsham Ladies a bit of a wake up call and after regaining the ball from the kick off, some strong carries up the middle of the pitch from the forwards allowed the backs to put it through the hands for Sian Brooks to touch down and level the score 15 minutes in (5-5). Missed conversion. 20 minutes in and the conditions were getting tough, credit to the whole pack but especially the front row of Holly Feller, Bex Smith and stand in hooker Charlotte Harvey for holding their feet and giving the rest of the pack a strong platform. Corinne Walsh scored her first of the game on 22 minutes after some good phases of play (10-5). Converted by Ann-Marie McIntyre (12-5). From there the game became a list of unfortunate events, completely understandable in the conditions. Both teams going close on numerous occasions but the final pass just not quite sticking. There was 1 more try on the stroke of half time, which saw the ever present number 8 Sophie Kukor crash over under the posts from a strong carry (17-5). Converted by Ann-Marie McIntyre (19-5).

Half time Topsham 19-5 SMOB Ladies.

The start of the second half saw Topsham playing with the conditions this time and they certainly picked up were they left of, with Rebecca Partridge going under the posts on 40 minutes after some fantastic offloads down the right flank from the forwards (24-5). Converted by Ann-Marie McIntyre (26-5). SMOB Ladies hit back minutes later though with some big carries from there pack and some impressive hands by their backs in the conditions (26-10). Conversion missed. The next try came from the forwards partnership of Kukor and Walsh with some incredible hands that wouldn’t of been out of place in a premiership backs line that eventually saw Corinne Walsh go over for her second try on 50 minutes (31-10). Conversion missed. It wasn’t long before Topsham were at it again, this time through the backs. Some great hands down the line saw Hayleigh Latty get the ball 20 meters out and with a strong run, crash through 1 defender and carry another over the line for her second try of the season (36-10). Conversion missed. Arguably the best try of the game came at 60 minutes. After a dazzling run from speedster Zoe Harrison, taking it from her own 22 to the opposition’s 22, and some neat offloads out the tackles, saw Tasha Currie go under the posts only for the referee to deem the ball was dropped over the line. From the resulting 5m scrum, SMOB Ladies spent the next 10 minutes working their way up the pitch and were rewarded with a try on full time from a cleverly taken quick tap penalty (36-15).

Full Time Topsham Ladies 36-15 SMOB Ladies.

Forward of the Match went to the work horse that is Bex Smith, putting in a serious shift.

Back of the Match went to Rachael Popham-Dowle, who controlled the game extremely well in such terrible conditions

Playing Line up:
1. Bex Smith
2. Charlotte Harvey
3. Holly Feller
4. Jenny Stephens
5. April Windle
6. Corinne Walsh
7. Anne-Marie McIntyre (C)
8. Sophie Kukor
9. Rachel Popham-Dowle
10. Rebecca Partridge
11. Hayleigh Latty
12. Sian Brooks
13. Dawn Latham Mahoney
14. Jo Bucknall
15. Lauren Mueller
16. Tasha Currie
17. Sophie Eaden
18. Zoe Harrison
19. Steph Papp

Topsham RFC

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