Murrayfield Wanderers claimed their third successive BT Women’s Premier League title with an 18-12 victory over Hillhead Jordanhill at BT Murrayfield on Sunday.
In what was a game of free-flowing rugby, Hillhead took the lead in the 15th minute after captain Louise McMillan and Jade Konkel combined in the 22 to set up flanker Hannah Telling for the whitewash.
Hills stand-off Ally Cook sent the conversion attempt through the uprights to give the Glasgow side a 7-0 lead.
Minutes later, Wandies found themselves deep in the opposition half and with a driving maul gaining momentum, experienced captain Sarah Quick barged over in the 19th minute.
Both sides continued to search for the upper hand with play stretching from one end to the other and it wasn’t long before Hills made a charge for the line.
Konkel was involved once again in the close quarters when setting the ball for the back-line, who found centre Abi Evans for Hills’ second try of the match before the half-hour mark.
Wandies’ centre Helen Nelson made several dents in the Hills’ defence and it wasn’t long before the Edinburgh side capitalised on the break, Chloe Rollie releasing Eva Rojas Bonet who touched down after sprinting down the right.
Half-time: Murrayfield Wanderers 10-12 Hillhead Jordanhill
After the interval, Wandies took advantage of another driving maul down the left to see front-row Beth Dickens crash over after 46 minutes to take the lead for the first time.
Hills continued to pressurise however, McMillan breaking and evading several tackles in midfield before a penalty awarded in the scrum provided the visitors with an attacking platform metres from the line.
Wandies’ defence held strong and the ball was soon punted away for the hosts to counter in the remaining quarter of the match with Lisa Robertson charging through the Hills’ defence.
Scotland Women captain, Lisa Martin, then extended Wandies’ lead with a successful penalty strike to end Hills hopes with minutes left on the clock.
Full-time: Murrayfield Wanderers 18-12 Hillhead Jordanhill
Referee: John Smith
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson, Walter Gaffney
BT Women’s Premier League title decider, Murrayfield Wanderers v Hillhead Jordanhill
Murrayfield Wanderers: Chloe Rollie; Christina Newton, Eilidh Sinclair, Helen Nelson, Eva Rojas; Lisa Martin, Jenny Taylor; Sarah Quick CAPTAIN, Lucy Park, Beth Dickens, Emma Wassell, Sarah McCormack, Ciara O’Driscoll, Jennifer Cram, Rachel Cook. Replacements: Lisa Robertson, Alison Wilsom, Lucy Minty, Sula Callender, Kirsty Auckland.
Hillhead Jordanhill: Erin Haldane; Andrea Gaffney, Abi Evans, Hannah Smith, Caitlyn Haldane; Ally Cook, Sarah Smith; Heather Lockhart, Stella Kyalikunda, Lindsey Smith, Kirsty Reid, Kirsty Openshaw, Hannah Telling, Louise McMillan CAPTAIN, Jade Konkel. Replacements: Fiona Reardon, Fiona Dorman, Siobhan McMillan, Kirstin Daly, Aimee Watson.
Report courtesy of Scottish Rugby
