Enniskillen Ladies 36 Malone Ladies 5

Enniskillen Ladies produced an excellent display on Saturday evening as they recorded a 36-5 win over league leaders Malone, the result seeing Skins close to within a point of the table toppers.

On a wet and windy evening at Mullaghmeen, the crowd that braved the elements were not to be disappointed and were treated to a festival of running rugby despite the conditions.

Enniskillen set the tone from the start with the forwards carrying hard at the Malone defence at every opportunity.

Frustratingly for Skins, the conditions were making it difficult to get into their free-flowing style of play.

A thunderous hit in the midfield by Farrah Cartin McCloskey led to a turnover and from that Moya Hill and Ashling Maguire carried the ball to the edge of the Malone 22.

Cora Balfour timed the pass perfectly to Rebecca Beacom, who sliced through the Malone defence and showed a great turn of pace to score beside the post to make it 5-0 to the home side.

The remainder of the first half turned into an arm wrestle between the two 22s, with some excellent rugby played by both sides but dominated by defences.

Malone had the best chance of the next period with a great line break by their outside centre with Cartin McCloskey making the last-ditch tackle deep into the 22 to save a certain try.

With only a few minutes left in the first half Malone came hard at Enniskillen but the defence held firm, and from a trademark turnover from Cora Balfour, India Daley picked up the loose ball and sprinted untouched from 40 metres for Enniskillen’s second try of the game.

Balfour was successful with the conversion to leave it 12-0 at half time.

From the start of the second half, the pack carried hard to produce a platform for the backs to launch their attacks.

The work rate of the front five had been immense all night with the back row hammering at the Malone defence that stood firm until a tap penalty was carried up again by Maguire, making great ground.

Quick ball from the ruck and Balfour fed Moya Hill on an exquisite line to slice through the defence and power over for the third score of the night to make it 17-0.

Five minutes later, Enniskillen’s Katie Elliott carried deep into the Malone 22 and the ever-alert India Daley picked from the ruck to power over beside the posts for her second of the night.

Malone’s only score of the night came after some great carrying by their pack and they got their just rewards with a score to make it 22-5.

Enniskillen had the bit between their teeth and weren’t going to let Malone back into this game.

It was a forward-orientated game and they got their reward when Sophie Barrett powered over the line through four would-be tacklers. Balfour slotted over the conversion to make it 29-5.

It wasn’t long before Skins were on the board again and this time it was for Player of The Match, Ashling Maguire, who crashed over from 10 metres out, again converted by Balfour to leave the final score at 36-5.