Celtic Challenge – Replay
Scotstoun
Background
This fixture had fallen foul of the bad weather. A reserve weekend was set aside for just such a purpose. But another match to suffer the same fate, Glasgow Warriors v Clovers, will not be replayed, Glasgow using up this one date available. The teams take two points each, Glasgow’s being their first of the season.
This will always be a handicap of the tournament, placed in the depth of winter. There are three rounds still to come, but this was another chance for Warriors to get their campaign up and running.
Game
It was good to see Warriors looking far more cohesive. They pressed from the start and Gemma Bell had the first score from an accurate catch-and-drive. Even better, Mairi McDonald was allowed to escape from a thinly populated breakdown and run down the left flank for a second helping. 12-0
To the surprise of both sides, who reckoned the ball was held up, Warriors were awarded their third. But Laws are Laws. 19-0
With renewed confidence Glasgow built strong combinations. Then – oh dear! – a telegraphed pass was easily read by Lucy Macrae, and she ran in unopposed to get Edinburgh off the mark. 19-7
They continued their advance. The backs were held inches short, but the pack took over, and Aila Ronald claimed their second.
Half-time: 19-12
Time would tell whether Warriors could maintain their new found form and gain their first properly earned points (remember that abandoned match).
They started with a really crisp backs move, but as the pack drove at the line, they lost possession and territory.
Poppy Mellanby showed her budding talent by cutting an excellent line through midfield. The pack hammered at the orange wall, but Edinburgh did well to turn the ball over. Warriors showed their range of skills by holding a maul up and regaining possession.
They had their tails up. They won a clean line-out and advanced into the red zone. When the ball was sent wide right, Abi Evans swerved out and in to cross. 26-12
On the three-quarter mark Edinburgh came alive, building multiple phases with imaginative handling. They reached right into Warriors’ defensive zone before a dropped pass undid the good work. That was more like the Edinburgh we had seen in the past and admired. But Warriors were limiting their possession and space.
They engineered a rolling maul that looked more like a runaway steamroller than anything I’d seen in three matches this weekend. It led to a multi-phase move that matched Edinburgh’s of a moment or so ago. Finally the ball swept left and Emily Norval had a try on debut. 31-12
As the game neared its close, Edinburgh failed consistently to clear the ball from behind their line. They paid the price: another dropped pass let Briar McNamara in for her second, and Warriors
could triumph in their first victory of the season, and against their greatest rivals.
Result: Glasgow Warriors 36 Edinburgh Rugby 17
Teams
Glasgow Warriors
1 Tucker (captain) 2 Sutcliffe 3 Lindsay 4 Bogan 5 Yeomans 6 Walker 7 Bell 8 Coubrough 9 McDonald 10 Ainsworth 11 Norval 12 McNamara 13 Proctor 14 Evans 15 Mellanby
16 Hyland 17 Fletcher 18 Fleming 19 Zameer 20 MacGilvray 21 Dannoch 22 Martin 23 Warren
Edinburgh Rugby
1 Brown 2 Ronald 3 Poolman 4 Ferrie 5 Logan 6 Gunderson 7 Stewart (captain) 8 Taganekurukuru 9 Law 10 Ramsay 11 H. Walker 12 Macrae 13 Brown 14 Conchie 15 Marlow
16 Craig 17 Tawake 18 Riach 19 Fosbeary 20 Sutherland 21 Love 22 Denholm 23 Scott
Afterthoughts
This match really showed the value of the tournament. It was only Warriors’ second home game in seven rounds; they had had a sticky run, not helped by the lack of preparation time together.
But they were a revelation here at Scotstoun. Young, inexperienced players (Poppy Mellanby still a schoolgirl and playing in an unfamiliar position) showed how weekly competition raises standards a treat.
Table after 7 rounds
W Pts
Wolfhounds 6 29
Clovers 5 25
Gwalia 5 24
Edinburgh 2 14
Glasgow 2 7
Brython 1 5
NB Clovers and Glasgow awarded two points each for an abandoned match.
Afterthoughts
The game was a fine example of the value of the CC. It helps players get used to regular high-tempo fixtures, and widens the management’s selections. The players themselves are in no doubt about the benefits it has brought. This year’s widened scope (home and away) has added extra value.
Even better, the two teams with the poorest records to date, Brython and Warriors, have both now gained a victory. Things are looking up.
It was encouraging to see two female head coaches, Lindsey Smith and Claire Cruikshank in charge.
