PHOTO:
Whitland Borderettes celebrate at Croesyceiliog
Croesyceiliog 0 - Whitland 52
Whitland clinched the Division One title with a hard fought game away to a very committed Croesyceiliog team, and although the score line might suggest an easy game it was anything but that until the Borderettes finally assumed full control.
The first twenty five minutes of the game were spent defending in their own half and only some great defence kept Croesyceiliog out. And the constant attacking seemed to drain the home team and with their first real attack Whitland scored a cracker of a try (check it out on You Tube!), as two good carries by Lowri Morgan and Sara Medeni drove into the heart of the home defence.
Good ruck ball was moved quickly by Emma Summons and Alice James to forward of the match Nat Walsh, who crashed up the mid field, taking out three defenders. She off-loaded to Cath Morley, who hit James on the loop, followed by quick hands to Rachel Finnan and a classic two versus one released full back Helen Price to canter over the line.
Busy back row
The second try was one for the back rowers, as a big hit in mid field by Walsh created the turn over which was carried forward by Medeni. From the ensuing ruck the ever-alert Morgan spotted no guards and took off up field, drew the full back and put No8 Angharad Williams in for the try which was converted by Beca Norris.
Williams was on the score sheet again within minutes, after some good carries by Price and Norris, driven over the line by fellow back rower Walsh. This try was well converted from the touch line by Norris.
Having been involved in creating the first three tries, Walsh scored one herself from the kick off, when good ruck ball from the forwards was moved away quickly by James to Walsh, who crashed through the mid field, side-stepped the full back and scored under the posts for Norris to add the extras.
Real pace causes problems
Next on the score sheet was right wing Heather Rees, who was on the end of some super handling along the backline which released her on the overlap to sprint in before Norris again added the extras.
The final score of the half came from Alice James, normally the provider, who decided to make a break from halfway, cut through the home defence, side-stepped the full back and scored under the posts before she added the extras as well.
Tighter second half – but still more tries
The second half saw the Borderettes take their foot off the gas, which allowed Croesyceiliog to mount some attacks of their own but the Whitland girls held firm and from turn-over ball in their own half Summons found Walsh on the blind side, who powered through three tacklers and again stepped the full back to score under the posts .
Cracking final try to reach half century
With the front row of Ceris Moyle, Medeni and Sara Davies dominating the scrums there was plenty of ball for the Whitland backs to use. Debutant Maggie Simons made some telling bursts and Cath Davies also had some searing breaks but it was Rees on the wing who scored the final try after some good handling by both forwards and backs released her to sprint away for her second which was converted by Norris.
*Well done to the Whitland girls for securing their first-ever league title, and they would also like to congratulate Haverfordwest, who came runners up in Division 3 in their first season in the league.