The Stewartry Sirens are continuing to work hard in the top four split of the BT Women’s Premier League. Last weekend, they faced RHC Cougars at home and hoped to put in an improved performance against the Edinburgh side.
Having put in a fantastic performance against Hillhead Jordanhill the week before, The Sirens knew what they were capable of and were aiming to produce the same smothering defence.
The start wasn’t what The Sirens had hoped for, as RHC cored 14 points within the first 10 minutes, but they kept up the pace. A solid scrum, followed by a good crash ball from Iona St Joseph in the centre with strong support from Chloe Johnstone and a good offload it to scrum-half Claire Manson led to The Sirens first try of the game.
The home team managed to hold off a lot of the pressure on their own try line, and made two good exits from their own 22 following heavy pressure from the RHC attack. However RHC did manage to find a way through and score, taking them ahead 7-19 after 20 minutes.
There was no backing down from The Sirens though, and a great team try came from some good pressure, which led to a break through the middle from fly-half Lisa Ritchie.
The Sirens went into half time with the closest scoreline since the league split, trailing by just 10 points at 14-24.
With some strong running from prop Shannon Nicholson, and some good clearance kicks from winger Bethan Cameron, the home side were close to making it over the RHC tryline again, but were ultimately unable to cross the whitewash.
Despite some good line breaks and strong defensive tackles during the second half, Stewartry went off the boil a bit in the final 20 minutes, losing composure and falling off tackles, which RHC took full advantage of and finished strongly, winning 14-46.
The Sirens travel away to Hillhead Jordanhill next weekend, Saturday 17th December, KO 12pm, for their final match of 2016.
Man of the Match (chosen by Stewartry): Bethan Cameron
Man of the Match (chosen by RHC): Iona St Joseph
Image Courtesy of Stewartry Sirens
