Enniskillen Ladies lose out to a strong Queens side at the Dub

The Arena pitch at the Dub at Queens University sports ground was a fitting place for this fixture against Queens Ladies on Saturday evening.

The Enniskillen ladies travelled with less than their full squad (injury absentees India Daley and Lucy Thompson and a few other absent with commitments) but they were still able to field a strong 19 player squad.

For the Enniskillen ladies second game, Queens Ladies would be a very tough challenge as they have been at the top of Ulster Ladies rugby for a number of years.

Enniskillen received the kickoff and the pressure was put on them from minute one by Queens. A scrum in the midfield allowed their strong No8 and excellent scrum-half to break right to find the winger who touched down in the corner. Conversion missed. 5-0.

The half continued with Queens having the upper hand for most of it but massive defensive efforts by lots of the Skins forwards and a try saving tackle by Farrah Cartin McCloskey (Player of the Match) kept the scoreline very tight at the half time whistle with the home side leading 5-0.

Skins Ladies hadn’t played to their strengths in the first half but after words of encouragement from the coaches at the break, they came out with renewed vigour.

A number of huge carries from Sophie Barrett, Moya Hill and Aisling Maguire seen them eventually break into the Queens backfield and when the ball was transferred quickly by Rebecca Pennell to Cora Balfour onto Zara Flack, she showed her pace and balance to finish off from the 22 and score under the posts. Converted by Cartin McCloskey to make it 5-7.

No sooner had Skins gained the lead but a missed knock on by the otherwise excellent referee seen Queens get to the five metre line where an offside decision seen Skins having to defend on their try line. A well worked tap penalty routine seen them crash over under the posts and convert to put Queens 12-7 ahead.

The next ten minutes seen both sides play some really great attacking rugby but the defences just seemed to hold the upper hand until a lovely break by Cartin McCloskey saw Skins get to the Queens five metre line where the ever reliable Sophie Barrett used her strength to make the last yards over the line. Converted again by Cartin McCloskey to make it 12-14.

The game was really flowing now and Queens seemed to be finding space where previously there was little. They were fortunate with the bounce of the ball and that allowed an overlap down their left and when the ball was spun to their scrum half, she touched down in the corner. The conversion missed but Queens were back in front, 17-14.

A number of key injuries and tiring limbs saw Queens at the Skins line again. Not even superb tackles from the Beacom sisters, Ciara Woods and the tireless Sophie Meeke could stop them crashing over the line. Conversion added and final score of 24-14.

Whilst the Skins ladies came away from a fantastic and bruising game with no points, they surely have learnt so much from this game. The next fixture comes straightaway at home this Sunday at Mullaghmeen with the visit of the Belfast Harlequins with a 1pm kick off. Please come and show your support for our ladies.