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MADRAS RUGBY TAUGHT A LESSON BY MADRAS FP’s LADIES HOCKEY

MADRAS RUGBY TAUGHT A LESSON BY MADRAS FP’s LADIES HOCKEY

Colin McAdam8 Jun 2015 - 11:43
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With the formal parts of the season behind us Madras Rugby limbered up to take on Madras Ladies Hockey team in the annual clash at the University

MADRAS RUGBY TAUGHT A LESSON BY MADRAS FP’s LADIES HOCKEY

With the formal parts of the season behind us Madras Rugby limbered up to take on Madras Ladies Hockey team in the annual clash at the University Sports Centre. Madras Rugby having been soundly beaten the last time the clash was played were keen to put a marker down this time and restore some Madras Rugby pride.

Madras Rugby having selected a side that had a good mix of youth and experience from one to fifteen and included player from across all sections of the club right from the Blues all the way through to Vets, staff and committee members arrived with the tails up ready for the encounter.

There was an air of confidence in the dressing room before the match which perhaps was a bit mis-guided considering some of the boys needed to have the rules explained to them before hitting the pitch, but that didn’t deter the enthusiasm.

As the game got started it became quite apparent that Madras Rugby were up against it right from the off, as wave against wave of attack came from the ladies team high on confidence following a successful season where they finished 4th in Midlands Division 1. But Madras Rugby held strong and put in some last ditch challenges and spilled blood in the name of preserving our goal.

However the sustained pressure finally paid off as a well penalty corner move by the ladies sent the Madras Rugby side scrambling to protect our goal but in the confusion and panic the ball crept over the line claimed by Kirsty Trewartha.

The ladies quickly asserted their authority over the game with perhaps Madras Rugby being a bit too gentlemanly in their response to some robust challenges from the ladies. The ladies capitalising on Madras Rugby’s inexperience at the game to open out a commanding lead with Caz Pigott and then Lisa Brunton scoring good goals to leave the men scratching their heads for answers.

Following half time and some words of wisdom from Craig Bones on the touch line the men put up more of a challenge and caused the ladies a bit of a problem in spells. During the first half Madras Rugby had been guilty of playing the ball straight up the middle of the pitch but from our touch line analyst it was clear that this was where the ladies were at their strongest so in the second half we endeavoured to play the ball in a more creative fashion along the wings which worked out a bit more in our favour.

Madras Rugby made a pledge to get more stuck in as we were getting bullied a bit by the ladies. The second half was a much more closely contested affair with some good passages of play from both sides keen to assert their authority over the game. In spite of the best efforts of the Madras Rugby side and perhaps placing one or two players onto the pitch above the regulation 11 players we lost a fourth goal towards the end of the match to leave us trailing 4-0.

All in all though the match was played in a cracking spirit with both teams greatly enjoying the encounter and the fine weather that it was played in.

The day didn’t end at that as Madras Rugby hosted an end of season social event at the club for all the teams who had played under the Madras Rugby banner and for the Ladies Hockey team and their squads. The ladies holding their annual awards celebration as part of the evening.

Unfortunately due to the high winds we had to cancel our ultimate Frisbee match, but a semi-competitive game of rounder’s was a fitting end to the season that saw our Madrascals win well in tournaments, Madras Blues S1 & S2’s put in some performances that were breath taking, with our other Blues sections pulling out some great results throughout the season. along with Madras Rugby who pulled themselves out of a real mess the previous season to finish a credible fifth in the league in 2014/2015. That in anyone’s book is an achievement to be proud of, but at the same time sets a marker for the season to come.

On behalf of Madras Rugby Club we would like to express our thanks to Madras FP Ladies Hockey Team for the game today and the two umpires for keeping us in check. To the staff at Madras who looked after us well during the evening, and to everyone who participated in what can only be described as successful day to top off two successful seasons.

There seemed to be a consensus on Saturday evening after a few social drinks that a game of Touch Rugby will be included next season as part of the days challenge.
Better get practicing ladies, Everyone is more than welcome to come along to our Summer Touch on a Thursday nights 6:30pm at Madras until we hand over the clubhouse for the Open, then we will play on the beach.

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