After a long summer break the Westbury Ladies were chomping at the bit to have their first game of the season. The ladies galloped out in their new kit (supported by Vodafone and Only Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing Studio, and gifted by Canterbury) with the iconic Westbury White Horse on their backs.
This is the first time Westbury and Newbury Ladies have met and both teams were using the get-together as a pre-season friendly, to try players in new positions and as an opportunity to work on new plays.
Westbury Ladies started strongly with balls being stollen from Newbury by Mariana Mosquera and Maddie Bias, as both teams fumbled with nervous hands. Lana Plumer, who was attempting being lifted in the line out, also manage to steal a ball during the set piece before stealing another at a ruck and running in a 60m try which went unconverted. Sadly, that was the only try of the afternoon for Westbury Ladies.
The Blues were on the fight back and within minutes had scored their first of the afternoon which also went unconverted.
Westbury Ladies made some fantastic tackles by Becca Bater and Eva Turner, but they couldn’t hold Newbury back, who scored and converted one more before the half time making the score at the break 5-12.
After halftime Newbury crossed the white line four more times and converted once to make the final score 5-44.
However, there were some standout performances in the second half from Jodie Bartlett and Jenni Coysten, who played her first game of rugby.
Forward of the match went to Becca Bater, with back of the match going to Maddie Bias.
Westbury Ladies next game is on 13th November, at home against Trowbridge Ladies.