On International Women’s Day, Olney Ladies, fittingly, took centre stage on Doffs Field as they welcomed St.Neots Ladies to East Street. A hard fought game in November, which Olney narrowly lost, suggested that a close encounter was in prospect. For the Pink Ladies, after two narrow defeats, the hope was that this week they would finish on the right side of the scoreboard.

The Olney cause was hampered by lack of numbers with only 14 players available. The league rules state that teams match numbers, but with the visitors having a full 15 and a couple of subs to bring on, the latter stages of the game were sure to be stamina sapping for the Olney Ladies. Olney kicked off to start the game which began cagily with both sides testing the others defence at close quarters. The tackling was strong on both sides but St Neots got into their stride a little quicker and made ground into the Olney 22. With 5 minutes on the clock, a penalty against Olney at ruck-time was quickly taken, the defence was caught napping and St Neots worked their way over the line for the first unconverted score. This initial setback seemed to spur Olney into life and they hit back with a period of sustained pressure in opposition territory. Some powerful surges from the likes of Jade Mobbs, Ellie Hiscock and Kayleigh Beare almost broke through but for some excellent last moment tackles. Eventually though the defence was sucked in, the ruck ball was clean and quick and with space in the centre Lianne Manley-O’Reilly crashed through for a well deserved score. In the long term absence of injured legend Jen Miles, Lily Gavin has taken over the kicking duties. In the absence of unavailable Gavin up steps……. Yes, you’ve guessed it, pocket battleship hooker Georgia “Jolly” Whitaker. She calmly slotted the conversion to give her side the lead for the first time. Minutes later she returned to the day job as Olney were awarded a scrum on the left just inside the St Neots half. A solid set piece enabled the backs to show their own prowess, fullback Scarlett Donne bursting into the line on a wide arc to out-pace the defensive line before running around to score under the posts. Whitaker, of course added the extras but this was to be virtually her last involvement as after 25 minutes she had to leave the field with a nasty ankle injury.

Not daunted by this setback Olney now had the bit between their teeth showing dominance in the contact area through the rucking skills of Jen Micklewright and unsung lock forward Naomi Leicester coupled with the power of Emily Dunn. They kept the pressure on the St. Neots team and it was no surprise when Beare, always looking for a gap and/or a defender or two to leave in her wake, powered over for Olney’s third try of the half. Amanda Kinder took over the kicking duties and showed anything “Jolly” had done, she could do just as well.

Past encounters between these two teams have always been close and despite the 21-5 scoreline in favour of the Pink Ladies this was a very competitive, physical match with not much between the teams. As if to prove this St. Neots regrouped, taking the game back to their opponents. For the first time in the match they gained some success through their pacey outside backs who thus far had been starved of much opportunity by the abrasive Olney defence. Olney repelled several pacey incursions deep into their half with solid tackling from flanker Lauren Holt in midfield and wingers Felicity McKenna and Eva Short on the wings. Eventually though the pressure told and St. Neots were able to create space on their left wing. Despite a great cover tackle by Donne they were able to squeeze into the corner for the score. The final minutes of the half saw the visitors, boosted by that score, ramping up the pressure but the Olney defence, scrum and lineout held firm and they went into the break with a 21-10 lead. Unfortunately, the influential Kayleigh Beare was lost to the Olney cause at half time through injury - a 12 a side second half would undoubtedly be tough work against a pacey St Neots backline!

The second half followed a similar vein to the first, an entertaining fast paced affair with chances for both sides. On several occasions the marauding Olney pack almost broke through but were always just halted by a brave last moment tackle. Similarly, St. Neots, realising that moving the ball wide was their best opportunity, were being well marshalled by really sound Olney defence which either made the tackle or forced the handling error. During the middle part of the half, however, the match swung in the visiting team’s favour with two converted tries. The game was opening up as tiredness started to creep in and St Neots were able to work the space and on a couple of occasions it was enough to get behind the Olney defence and run in the scores close to the posts. The second of those scores meant that Olney were losing by 3 points with just 12 minutes left. Despite the workload that had already been put in Olney launched a fierce attack and camped in the St. Neots 22. They pounded the line from multiple phases but were always just stopped short until Ellie Hiscock drove over for the score, this time not converted. Olney were down to 11 players now, Holt having to leave the field, and despite being under constant pressure for the final minutes half backs Charlie Smeraglia (who had her most mature match so far in the No 9 shirt) and the ever calm Amanda Kinder managed the situation admirably until the final whistle blew giving the Pink Ladies a 26-24 victory.

This match was once again a really good showcase for Women’s Rugby at this level. A close game with bags of effort, energy and skill played in a really good spirit in front of a bunch of appreciative supporters from both sides.

Some pics of the match here