Buckingham Swans II 87 - 17 Biggleswade Ladies
After a spirited win against St Neots in their first league match, Biggleswade Ladies faced a tough challenge away against a strong and experienced Buckingham Swans II team.
With influential players missing through injury and unavailability, Biggy were always going to find this game hard, but a lacklustre performance didn’t help their cause.
Swans applied pressure from the kick-off, scoring three tries early on and exploiting indecisive and hesitant defence from Biggy.
The visitors just couldn’t settle, and it wasn’t until the 20 minute mark that Biggleswade revved up, with a strong carry from Kelly Hodgson that sucked in Swans players, allowing Vicki Marshall to make a quick pass to Lauren Poole who burst through Swans’ defence to score. Captain Claire Watson converted.
Biggy had a better spell of play, with Hodgson handing off players on another charge, and Lorna Evans putting in a big tackle in her first ever full game of rugby, but Biggleswade’s intensity and concentration levels were way below par, and Swans piled more points on the board.
Poole did display some fiery determination, corner-flagging a Buckingham player who looked certain to add to the total, and just two minutes later powering past several Swans at the other end of the pitch to score after Amy Schiller’s charge set her free.
Biggy’s wingers, starved of possession, had a quiet game, apart from an eventful chase back from Tash Cooper, who caught and tackled a Buckingham player, only to see momentum carry the attacker straight into the post protector with an almighty thump, before grounding over the line.
Swans continued to score almost at will after the break. There were only flashes of the Biggy side that played so well a fortnight ago. These included more Poole pile-driving tackles; new mum Emma Merrett returning to rugby and stopping a Buckingham player in her tracks with a determined tackle; and Holly Evans bundling over for a try after a series of Biggy phases put Swans under pressure (converted by Watson).
Forward of the Match was newbie Lorna Evans, for a baptism of fire performance at tighthead.
Back of the Match was Teri Taylor (sponsored by Royal Images) for a tireless tackle count.
Photos by Sophie Earls
