Ladies look like they've never been away

Strong start to 2018/19 season for Olney Ladies with win over Old Northamptonians

Olney Ladies' unbeaten record in 2018 looks set to continue as they opened their new season with a convincing win over Old Northamptonians ladies. The pack made an immediate impact as they forged a path up the field putting ONs on the back foot. Number 8 Lianne O'Reilly was first to score, going over for a try from a short ball 5metres out. Olney came back with the same power straight from the restart with second rows Kristi Gray and Connie Spoor making good inroads to ON's defence. O'Reilly burst through again with a well timed run to score, the conversion coming from Jen Miles at 10.

The play was dictated by the away team throughout the first 40 minutes, with scrum half Ellie Fletcher impressing not only in her delivery to the back line but in her tenacity at the base of the scrum. Interlinking with the mid field, Fletcher put the gas on and wound her way through ONs to touch down, the conversion again from Miles. ONs had no reply for Olney, who grew in confidence to perform some excellent set piece moves to edge ever closer to the try line. This time it was centre Charlotte Denny who went over, just before half time, to put Olney 24-0 up at the break.

ONs regrouped at half time and certainly disrupted Olney's flow, their wingers both putting in strong performances and only kept at bay by the try saving tackles of full back Kirsty Duncan, back in the pink and grey shirt after a recess of many years. Olney made a few handling errors and were penalised for not releasing the ball at times, giving ONs their chance to make a move. However, solid tackling and a well organised defence prevented any damage and it wasn't long before fly half Jen Miles got her well deserved try. Winger Emma Brown was next to go over, completing a deft wrap move in the backs which left gaps ready for her to fly through.

A sustained period of attack saw Olney's backs scoring four times in close succession with Duncan touching down, winger Leanne Britain completing a move and centre Charlotte Denny weaving her way through at pace to record a well deserved hat-trick of tries. Fittingly, fly half Jen Miles completed the scoring with a final try of her own taking Olney to a convincing 63-0 win over very able competitors. It was an impressive start to the season for Olney Ladies, who played with tenacity and passion to set their season off in such a fantastic way.

Olney Ladies is sponsored by Jackson Waite Estate Agents.