Women’s rugby made a long overdue return to our club this season with the re-emergence of the Dalkeith Ladies team. On November 5th it was their turn to be hosts of the newly created Aspiring league. The visiting clubs to King’s Park on the day were Lasswade, Berwick, Gala & Edinburgh University.

The format was each team to play 2 x 40 minute games. Dalkeith’s opponents being Berwick & Gala.

First up for Dalkeith was Berwick on the 1XV pitch. Backed by a large home support Dalkeith received the kick off and some great interplay & support lines resulted in Rachel opening the scoring with less than a minute gone with some impressive strong running. A few short minutes later Dalkeith registered their 2nd of the game after Abbie gathered a loose ball a few yards out and dived over to make the score 10 – 0.

The Berwick team showed a refreshing willingness to move the ball whenever they were in
possession and breached the Dalkeith defensive line on more than one occasion early on, only last ditch tackles from Amy & Missy kept the home side’s line intact.

Dalkeith stretched the lead to 15 – 0 when Amy “Mad Dog” Macnamara was unleashed for the 1st time that afternoon scoring with a fine length of the field solo effort.

In the forward exchanges, Lyndsay Halliday was a constant nuisance at the breakdown and the source of plenty turnover ball. Dalkeith introduced Pam McIntosh (she’s 49 you know!) to proceedings 20 minutes in and she was straight into the action, multi phases by the Dalkeith forwards got them deep into enemy territory only for Pam to be ushered into touch 5 yards out.

Play raged on and Berwick finally got over the line for a deserved score to take the score to 15 – 5.

This seemed to spur the Dalkeith girls on & their next score was a beauty. Strong running by Lyndsay & Sarah brought about a penalty, Rachael with a quick tap & go got the Berwick defence on the back foot, Rachael’s pass wide found Amy gathering the ball at pace to romp home and secure an impressive team try. 20 – 5, soon followed up by another score from deep by Rachael 25 – 5.

Every Dalkeith player was showing up well against a decent Berwick team, Yvonne & Debbie were making their presence felt in the midfield, whilst Eleanor looked dangerous whenever she was in possession. It seemed as though more Dalkeith scores were likely, However, it was Berwick who were next to touchdown and peg the score back to 25-10.

The greens weren’t finished yet though, another solid attack from Rachael made the initial line break where she found Pam (49) who carried well to make another 20 yards up the field. Quickly recycled ball found Shirley who released Amy to run in her 3rd of the game.

Dalkeith seen out the rest of the game for a comfortable 30 – 10 victory.

Gala was next and a fiercely contest was anticipated. Dalkeith knocked on from the kick off giving Gala an early scrum around the halfway line. The Dalkeith scrum was solid allowing scrum half Amy the chance to pinch the ball and outpace the Gala defence for another 1st minute score.

Lyndsay was soon on the scoresheet too, this being the reward for her putting in some monumental hits on the opposition. 10 – 0

Dalkeith’s strong start continued this time it was Abby taking play to the Gala try line with Amy applying the finishing touches to make the score 15 – 0 and the Gala team not knowing what had hit them.

‘Mad Dog’ soon collected her 2nd hat trick of the afternoon with a trademark searing break and Dalkeith were out of sight at 20 – 0.

Gala were not about to roll over though and committed defence from the Dalkeith was required on a number of occasions, with Debbie, Eleanor & Shirley showing great desire to put their bodies on the line for the team.

Rachael ran in another outstanding effort to take the game to 25 – 0. At this point the Dalkeith discipline took a dip & continual penalties against them meant a barrage of pressure on their try line. The pressure had to tell and Gala inevitably got over the line making it 25-5.

This was followed up by another Gala score closing the gap to 25-10 at half time.

The 2nd half got underway & Dalkeith scored early on after Amy ripped the ball out of a maul and trotted over. 30 – 10

From their own restart, Gala managed to regain possession of the ball and managed to put together a few phases of play, eventually breaching the Dalkeith defensive line and gaining their 3rd score. 30 - 15.

Fatigue was setting in for both teams at this point and there was a further 3 scores in the last few minutes.

The 1st went to Dalkeith and was undoubtedly the most popular score of the afternoon. Lyndsay Halliday (Dalkeith Ladies OG) burst through the centre of the Gala defence to run in a score from her own half to the delight of the home support. 35-15

Gala pulled a score back when their impressive number 10 went over. 35-20

Rachael was heavily involved for the last score with some more strong running that the Gala team couldn’t handle, her Auntie Pam had ran a great support line and was right there to take the scoring pass.

But did the scoring pass come?………………nope!

Rachael dotted down for her 2nd of the game, Dalkeith’s 8th and a final score of 40 -20

Overall a successful day with some fine rugby played by all teams.

The Dalkeith team are to be commended for the progress they’ve made in such a short time.

Congratulations to the players & coach Stevie for their performances on the day
The Squad:
Shirley
Rachael
Yvonne
Pam
Amy
Debbie
Sarah
Lyndsay
Missy
Abbie
Eleanor