Mary’s On Fire

Beautiful sunshine, two teams looking to play great rugby and 17 tries. Not a bad way for SMOBL to open their home account for the season. Topsham were the visitors and a good crowd had pitched up. Mary’s were led out by the days super mascot “River” and got underway. Topsham started really fast and drew first blood when their excellent centre/full back broke some flimsy tackling to offload just short and see the visitors score on 3 minutes. Mary’s reply was swift and from a set piece they scored a beauty after a perfectly timed pass from fly half Danielle Rigby saw Jade Gamlin carve through to score and convert her own try. 7-5. Mary’s then went on the attack again and following some great work by the pack the backs made good ground and when Rigby was hauled down just short she popped up to Topsham old girl Ann Webb who scored her first try for Mary’s. Sadly Webb turned her ankle in the process and had to be replaced. Conversion good 14-5. On 20 minutes the pack made Drill happy when they got him a pie from an excellent catch and drive, Sarah Cronk dropping over the line for the finish. 19-5. But then back came Topsham. A cross kick from Mary’s fielded inside her own 22 by the full back and off she went. 3 seconds later she was under Mary’s posts. 19-12. Pressure on but Mary’s always respond well and they quickly added 3 tries to their tally through Gamlin, Rigby and Chloe Tucker who all finished off superbly after more hard work by the pack. Bonus point secured but it was Topsham who had the last word when they scored their 3rd to keep themselves in the hunt. Half time 34-17. Second half home side looking to take the game away and they did just that. Firstly Emily Robson standing in on the wing was on hand to finish another well worked try before debutant Phoebe Beer showed her pace to scorch in from half way. Tucker added her second and Gamlin converted them all to see Mary’s out to 55-17. But once again Topsham rallied and that pesky 15 was at it again scoring after another fine run to make it 55-24. But Mary’s fitness really told in the last 20 and they scored 4 further excellent tries. Beer added her second in the opposite corner to her first before the superb Sarah Barker picked and went from 40 meters to romp home. Tucker then completed her hat trick and Paige Allen put the icing on an outstanding performance by scoring her first for the club and Mary’s 13th try of the game. Two more conversions landed by Gamlin for a final score of 79-24. Topsham deserve huge credit for the way they played and conducted themselves. It was an absolute pleasure to host them, but Marys were on fire on the day. Huge congratulations to all ladies involved and a big thank you to the supporters who were there. There were excellent performers all over the place but picks of the day were Danielle Hand, Sarah Barker and Paige Allen in the pack and Danielle Rigby, Jade Gamlin and Chloe Tucker in the backs. Players Player this week was debutant Phoebe Beer who had an excellent game and a shocking post match pint. The ladies are back in action on 29th when they travel to Greyhounds RFC in the cup. Your support would be most welcome.