Westbury Ladies progress to the next round of the Cup

Westbury ladies started their 2015/16 cup campaign on Sunday at home against Plymstock Albian Oaks Ladies. After making it to the second round of the cup last year, confidence was high for a repeat performance.

Westbury kicked off in front of a great home crowd and immediately put pressure on the visitors, spinning the ball out wide to Captain, Lana Plummer, who crossed the line for her first of the day which she duly converted. From the resulting kick off, the ball was spun wide to the opposite wing where Hannah Jones sprinted up the touch line with a lovely step and hand off to cross the line for her first try for the Ladies. After a very tough position for the kick, the conversion was the only missed by Plummer in the entire game.

Westbury scored a further three tries in the first half in an excellent display by all. The Westbury back row of Wendy Baker-Mitchell, Maisie Chester and Anna Hemingway provided some excellent turn over ball and pressurised the Oaks back line well giving support and space for the Westbury backs to use the ball quickly and put Sasha Smith in plenty of space for her to run in two tries and Lana Plummer to add to her tally for the day with another. The half time score was 33-0 to the home side.

The second half started with a great take from second row, Bracken Thyer, and the forwards showing it’s not just the backs that can move the ball quick - getting it out to Kerry Ackerman who ran the ball in from 20 meters to cross the line for her second of the season.

Westbury now had to show their defensive ability with the visitors stringing some great phase play together and pushing Westbury back towards their own line. Westbury were patient and defended well, controlled by scrum half Maeve Taylor and eventually won a penalty and the ball back. Unfortunately at this point in the game an ambulance had to be called for one of the Oaks players and the game moved to another pitch. The penalty was taken with the ball being cleared to touch and the line out won back with Lana Plummer crossing for her third of the game.

The remainder of the second half was a little scrappy from the home team but they still managed to get the ball wide a further two times for Sasha Smith to finish off a great day for her with a total of four tries.

Credit to Oaks who kept going right to the end of the game putting pressure on Westbury and forcing them to work hard defensively which paid off with a couple of late scores, one of which was converted.

The game finished 61-17 to the home team, a win thoroughly deserved by Westbury for a great team performance all round. We have had word from Plymstock that their injured player is going to be fine, we wish her a speedy recovery.

A special mention must go to the forwards and backs players of the match, Kerry Ackerman and Becs Lamb. They both put in spectacular performances, and should be proud....along with the rest of the girls!!

The ladies now look ahead to this weekend when they are back in league action against Devizes at home, make sure you come down and watch.

Match Report by: Becs Lamb