National 1: Captain Dani downs brave Borderers with birthday hat-trick display

By Mark Brown

Broughton were forced to fight all the way at Wardie as they overcame Melrose 43-22 to go back to second top in National 1.

Peppered with player unavailable, Head Coach Louise Forsyth donned the No.9 jersey in a team that saw Morven Murray in the unfamiliar berth as winger whilst Cat Robertson filled the hooker role.

Melrose, looking for their opening win of the campaign, kicked-off however it took just four minutes for the hosts to trouble the scoreboard. 

A rampaging run by Forsyth, playing against her first senior club, saw her halted 10 metres short of the line.  Recycled ball saw Demi Brooks come up with the leather oval, assisted by Angela Martin who helped guide her over the line.

Play raged on for the next quarter of an hour with plenty huff and puff but lacking that final push to deliver points.

That was until the Borders side levelled proceedings with a fine bursting run through the middle by their forward-come-back Judith Oguguo, who earned both side's Player of the Match awards, set up the equalising score.

Seven minutes later, Broughton edged themselves back in front when Flic Wright came up trumps when she powered over the Melrose try line to score her first points for the club.

Jubilation turned to frustration as those pesky Borderers once again tied the game up with another score.

There was to be one final try ahead of the break and yes, the pendulum once again swung in favour of Broughton and it came in some style too.  Nicky Gaskell's dynamic run, together with trademark hand-off features saw the ball find its way to Vicky Allen who pinned her ears back to make tremendous ground.  Drawing in the last line of defence whilst the chasing pack pursued her down the infamous slope, she passed inside to Captain Dani Downs to race in unopposed.  Kerry Colthart obliged by splitting the uprights.

Half Time: Broughton 17-10 Melrose

It was a birthday to remember for the skipper as Dani Downs galloped over the line two more times after the break, sandwiching a Melrose effort to make it 29-17, the extras slotted by the try scorer herself.

With a four-try bonus point already in the bag for the home side, the ladies from the Greenyards earned a point of their own with a fourth try to set up a frantic last five minutes.

Hopes of an upset were quashed however as Broughton ran in two converted tries before the final hooter.  Nicky Gaskell diving over the line even with a Melrose defender attached to her back, then the quick feet of Kerry Colthart saw the flying full back evade the clutches of the Borders backs to skip behind the sticks to put extra light between the sides at the full time whistle.

Full Time: Broughton 43-22 Melrose  

Updated 07:30 - 1 Sep 2019 by Mark Brown

Where next?

ANNOUNCEMENT: David Mercer MBE "An amazing man, we'll miss him terribly."
National 1: Win against the Warriors sees Broughton go top in emotional day at Wardie A bonus point win saw Broughton leapfrog visitors Annan Warriors to go top of National 1 at an emotionally charged top of the table clash at Wardie.

Video Advertising

Comments

Loading comments

Fixtures
su 7 huhti
a
Women Bigger
Cup 14:00

Affiliations

Club sponsor