Moseley Ladies 24 Shelford Ladies 22

Early pressure saw Mose take a 7-nil lead after just a couple of minutes, with Rachel Fenton scoring her first ever try for the club. Shelford could hardly blame travel legs for their slow start as they had been warming up for at least an hour and a half before kick-off. However, it wasn't long before they got into full swing, using their crash ball backs to good effect. Despite valiant defence, Shelford levelled the score after 20 minutes. Near enough straight from the resulting kick-off, Moseley Ladies once again retained the lead with some good forward interplay up the field, allowing skipper Michelle Gwynne to crash over between the posts.

With 20 minutes remaining of the first half, the "encouragement" from the quiet, retiring Shelford coach seemed to motivate/scare his team into action. Shelford visibly upped their game. Moseley on the other hand, decided to give the oppo a chance, and concede far too many penalties. As a consequence, 2 easy tries were given away in the last few minutes of the half. Shelford took a 17-12 lead into the break.

Cue the 2nd half whistle and Shelford picked up where they left off, scoring another well worked try, this time down the flank.
With things lookin rather ominous at this stage, coach Richard Bragg decided it was time for a change of personel and a switch in game plan. This seemed to do the trick as the ladies started to see more of the ball with more space to use it in. Finally starting to get the ball out wide, Emma Shields showed her pace and rounded the Shelford wing, stepped inside the fullback to get her 7th try in all games this season, and to continue her run of scoring in every fixture so far. Kaleigh Johnston slotted the conversion to take the score to 22-19 in Shelford's favour.

What ensued was 20 minutes of perhaps the most physical womens rugby I have seen in quite some time. A right royal battle. Moseley were on the charge and throwing everything they had at Shelford. With 10 minutes remaining, after a well worked lineout, Michelle Gwynne, clearly relishing her new role in the front row, went over for her second of the game.

The rest of the game was played out in the Moseley 22, with Shelford battering away at the try line. Fortunately, The red and black defence held strong. Last play called, Laura McPhilimey hoofed the ball out from the back of a ruck to give Moseley their first league win of the season.

Final score Moseley Ladies 24, Shelford Ladies 22

Tries : Michelle Gwynne x2, Emma Shields, Rachel Fenton
Conversions : Kaleigh Johnston x2

Back of the match : Nicola Brown
Forward of the match : Stephanie Warner