Altrincham Kersal Women’s rugby team made the long journey to Scunthorpe for their first league match with fourteen players.  With a retired prop playing at number twelve and a retired flanker on the wing, it was going to be an interesting game. 

Despite being a player short, Altrincham looked strong in the opening minutes and dominated the scrums.  However, this dominance was not to last as after five minutes they lost a props to a knee injury.  Scrums became uncontested and Kersal continued with only thirteen players on the pitch.

Within a minute of the game re-starting, Scunthorpe used their additional players to create an overlap and scored under the posts.  This was followed several minutes later by another try scored in much the same way.  However, Kersal did not let this deter them and three points from a penalty lifted their spirits.

Following good spells of play from both sides, Altrincham Kersal captain, Anna Goatman, beat several Scunthorpe players to put Pam Read over the line for a try.  Just before half time, however, Scunthorpe used their greater numbers to their advantage and scored another try making the halftime score line 17-8.

Scunthorpe started the second half with a converted try and Altrincham Kersal responded by taking the ball straight back up the pitch into Scunthorpe’s twenty two.  With the forwards working hard to secure quick ball, Altrincham Kersal were able to create an overlap in the back line allowing Leanne Cardus to score under the posts.

The rest of the second half was notable only for a yellow card against one of the Scunthorpe players and a further score from the home team. 

Despite losing the match, the Kersal coach Vicky Muir was pleased with the team’s positive attitude throughout, and particularly impressed by the debut performance of full back Kelly Rickard.  Altrincham Kersal Women play their next league match against Carlisle on Sunday 15^th October at home.

Final score: Scunthorpe 29-13 Altrincham Kersal. 

Altrincham Kersal:

1 Amanda Palin   2 Lisa Cooke, 3 Nicky, 4 Amy-Jane Dutton, 5 Becky Hewson, 7 Ali Keeling, 8 Anna Goatman, 9 Jude Thompson, 10 Pam Read,

11 Vicky Muir, 12 Leanne Cardus, 13 Brierny Brown, 14 Nicola Herdman, 15 Kelly Rickard

Try scorers:  Pam Read and Leanne Cardus