With the Northern Echo Arena still in use by the New Zealand Squad for their World Cup preparations the DMP Sharks Ladies welcomed the ladies from Aylesford RFC to the fantastic facilities at Darlington RFC who kindly offered to host the game.
DMP were happy to welcome young Fly Half Rebecca Scholes and England wing Ruth Laybourn for their first game of the season as they returned from injury
DMP started the game with a deep kick off, a great chase secured the ball for DMP and another fantastic premiership game was underway. DMP took the game to Aylesford using their forwards to gain territory , the pressure told as a penalty was awarded to DMP and Captain Abbie Scott wisely chose to go for the posts, up stepped Sam Jamieson to slot the ball between the uprights leaving the score DMP 3 Aylesford 0 with four minutes gone.
As you would expect Aylesford responded and through their strong forward pack attacked DMP who kept Aylesford at bay with their well drilled defence making it difficult for Aylesford to gain any ground.
DMP showed their dominance in the set piece as they shoved Aylesford back in the scrum this was also the story in the line out where the ball was won on several occasions with some great work from Captain Abbie Scott, this dominance prevented Aylesford being able to establish a base to build from.
On nine minutes DMPs pressure told as the forwards turned the ball over they marched forward deep into Aylesford territory seeing there was space on the blindside experienced scrum half Emma Lloyd Edwards darted from the back of a maul, she was stopped by a great tackle from Aylesford’s Ashleigh Greenslade but a fantastic off load out of the tackle to supporting player Zoe Aldcroft saw her over the line for her first premiership try (not converted) taking the score to DMP 8 Aylesford 0
As you would expect from Aylesford they again responded showing the fighting spirit they are well known for, only the well organised DMP defence kept them at bay. On 19 minutes Aylesford broke through the resolute DMP defence DMP scrambled back but infringed and a penalty was awarded to Aylesford which was narrowly missed.
This near miss appeared to galvanise the DMP girls who started to tighten their grip on the game and they piled on the pressure, on 22 minutes the pressure told with a penalty being awarded to DMP which was again converted by Sam Jamieson leaving the score DMP Sharks 11 Aylesford 0
DMP now had their tails up and their backs were passing the ball with great speed and accuracy stretching the Aylesford defence. On 30 minutes Jen Lloyd Edwards went on a run, showing a great turn of speed, rounding several defenders before passing the ball through the backs out to Ruth Laybourn who turned on the afterburners to score in the right hand corner (not converted) leaving the score at DMP 16 Aylesford 0 which was the score as the first half ended.
Aylesford got the second half underway and for the next few minutes both teams cancelled each other out as they worked extremely hard in both defence and attack to find an advantage.
DMP ramped up the pressure with excellent work from their forwards prop Sarah Clough powered towards the line but was met by equally determined defence, her forward partners Amy Needham and Sarah Bush added their power to shove over the line and for Sarah Clough to score at the right hand side of the post which was converted taking the score to DMP 23 Aylesford 0.
The game continued at a frenetic pace with both sides not giving an inch. On the 57th minute the game was stopped as a nasty injury was sustained by DMPs speed Machine Jen Lloyd Edwards, unfortunately the injury was considered severe enough to move the game to the adjacent pitch to allow Jen to get the treatment she required
The game restarted on the adjacent pitch the DMPs girls now had control of the game as their backs were playing free flowing rugby, fly half Rebecca Scholes cleverly switched play, getting the ball out to Lauren Roberts, who made great ground before being tackled, she managed a fantastic off load to Linzi Taylor who scored her first premiership try in the left hand corner (not converted) leaving the score DMP 28 Aylesford 0.
DMP were rampant as fly half Rebecca Scholes made a long miss pass out to the left, which was collected by Linzi Taylor, who passed it quickly out to Emma Harbage, who ran from her own half showing a great turn of speed with only the fullback to beat a great handoff saw her power through to score her first premiership try, under the post, which was converted leaving the score at 72 minutes DMP 35 Aylesford 0
The DMP ladies were not finished as they ran the ball back at Aylesford through Emma Warrington who showed great pace down the right wing, she cleverly drew the last defender and passed the ball to Captain Abbie Scott who scored at the right hand side of the post (not converted) leaving the final score DMP Sharks 40 Aylesford 0.
The DMP girls dedicated the victory to Jen Lloyd Edwards and wish her a speedy recovery
The DMP ladies extended a massive thank you to Darlington RFC for being fantastic hosts
Back of the match was awarded to Rebecca Scholes
Forward of the match was awarded to Zoe Aldcroft
