Biggleswade & Royston Ladies 0 - 36 Milton Keynes Ladies
A disappointing scoreline didn’t tell the entire story of Biggleswade & Royston’s match against Milton Keynes Ladies on Sunday.
The atmosphere at Royston Heath was buzzing, with supporters in fine voice after a pre-match lunch.
Milton Keynes - currently second in the league - are a big, experienced side, and Big Roy - with only a few weeks of training together and a handful of matches under their belt - were always going to find it a tough game.
But MK knew they had a fight on their hands right from the off, when Captain Jaz Devereux put in a huge hit, knocking an MK player several feet backwards - the first of many crunching tackles in an afternoon where she led from the front.
It took MK ten minutes to get their first score, advancing phase by phase and retaining ball in the breakdown to edge their way up the pitch, before offloading for a try in the corner.
Big Roy responded with some good forward work of their own, leading to a great kick by Devereux, and a marauding chase by Amelia Short, who decked the receiving full back. Before long, the tireless Short had to stretch her legs again to run down and tackle an MK winger who had broken through.
Battling second row Dorota Donigiewicz O’Sullivan took a yellow card for the team after a number of infringements and a warning in the last five minutes of the half. Despite some vital tackles from Big Roy winger Chloe Pearce, MK took advantage of the extra player and scored a repeat of their earlier try to go into the break 10 ahead.
MK’s strength began to tell in the second half, as they continued to grind out ground. A crash ball close to Big Roy’s line was offloaded for another try in the corner, and the scoreline began to creep up, as Big Roy began to tire. One of the visitors was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, but Big Roy could not break through while they had the numerical advantage.
Once more, however, the home side refused to admit defeat and drop their heads. Finding their last bursts of energy, they finished strongly, fighting for the points they felt their efforts deserved, but sadly didn’t come.
In the huddle after the final whistle, Big Roy’s coaches praised their efforts, and rightly applauded a number of players who had stepped into unfamiliar positions for the day.
Well played to MK. But Big Roy were proud to have made them work hard for every point.
Forward of the Match was Dorota Donigiewicz O’Sullivan
Back of the Match was Chloe Pearce
Player of the Match was Emma Merrett
Special Mention for Sal Anderson, a founding member of Royston Ladies, who played this as her retirement game. A huge shout out to her for her commitment and contribution to the side.
