Both Bath Rugby Ladies Is and IIs were in action at Lambridge on Sunday 17th January, with it being the first fixture in 2016 for both teams following postponements due to recent pitch conditions.
It was a key game for Bath Ladies first XV as they faced Supermarines, with just one point separating the two teams in the Championship South West 2 league.
It was a hugely physical contest, with Supermarines dominating possession, making it extremely difficult for the home side to gain any traction in the game.
Bath fullback Becky Harrison was able to score in the corner just before half time after strong carries from Fran Gilpin and Nina Edwards and slick handling from the backs. The home side led 5-0 at half time.
Slippery conditions meant that Bath struggled to assert themselves in the scrum, and despite a tireless effort from the home side in defence, Supermarines scored under the posts almost immediately after half time through their captain and flyhalf, taking the score to 5-7.
This spurred the visitors on and they scored in the corner through their hard-working pack. Despite fighting right until the final whistle, Bath were unable to gain meaningful periods of possession and finished out the game 5-12.
Bath Ladies IIs were also playing on the weekend, taking on the challenge of Westbury RFC.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with centre partnership Emily Sherwood and Nicola Hoole causing chaos in the Westbury defence from the off, Hoole securing a turnover within the opening five minutes and making a break up the middle of the pitch, offloading to fly-half Rhian Evans in support, who scored and converted to give Bath an early 7-0 lead.
Westbury immediately responded in kind, finding a gap in the wide channel to skip through for a line break and score under the posts, which went unconverted to make it 7-5.
Bath added a second score late in the first half, through centre Emily Sherwood, making the lead at the break 12-5.
Westbury came back fighting in the second half, both teams trading further tries, a third Bath score created by strong running from Bath winger Abbey Bull.
Bath led 19-12 until the 70th minute, when Westbury were able to build through the phases and put Bath under extreme pressure in their 22.
Bath defended bravely but were unable to prevent a further Westbury score, which the visitors converted to bring the score to 19-19.
With three minutes remaining, the game was paused after an injury to Bath back row, Kirsten James.
Despite the cold and a temptation to call it a draw, play resumed after both teams decided to carry on, and Bath were able to edge the game when a huge scrum from the Bath pack pushed Westbury off their own ball, leading to a penalty which got Bath back down the pitch.
In the final play of the game, fantastic pressure from centre Emily Sherwood forced a Westbury knock on, which Sherwood picked up and ran in a match-winning try, the final score 24-19.
This was the first ever win for the Bath Ladies second team, since it was established at the beginning of the 2015/16 season, in order to support the development of players and accommodate the ever-growing number of women that are joining the team.
Bath Ladies IIs captain, Kerry Pickering, said, “I don’t know where to start. Everyone gave their all today, to earn our first win is fantastic.”
Both teams will travel to away games tomorrow, Sunday, 24th January, with the first team facing London Welsh away, while the seconds travel to Old Bristolians. All support is welcomed.
