Bath Rugby Ladies 13 Plymouth Albion Ladies 10
Bath Rugby Ladies have ended their 2016-17 season as champions of the Women’s Championship South West 2 league, topping the table after 16 games.
With their final adversaries Plymouth Albion Ladies leading the table on 60 points ahead of Saturday’s kick off, and Bath sitting just two points behind on 58, the stage was set for a thrilling conclusion to the competition. Bath’s kick off to start the match went out on the full, so the game began with a solid scrum on halfway. Plymouth were able to build through the phases from the off, freeing their powerful centre runners, though Bath showed their intent to not give an inch in defence, with strong hits from scrum half, Nina Croker and prop, Fran Gilpin setting the tone. After Bath were penalised for a high tackle, the visitors kicked to the corner and built on several good phases. The home side withstood the early pressure; number eight Naomi Keddie steadied the ship with strong running off a number of defensive scrums, setting a good platform for fly-half Sarah Holloway to clear Bath lines with some effective kicks to touch.
The visitors dominated both territory and possession for the first 20 minutes, a theme that was to continue for most of the match, and smart play from Plymouth’s half-backs created many opportunities for their skilled runners in the wider channels. However, they were plagued by early handling errors, with several knock ons and forward passes scuppering a number of good chances, and Plymouth weren’t able to convert any of their early chances into points. The teams traded several penalties for high tackles and handling in the ruck, making it difficult for both to find flow.
It was Bath that were to take first reward. Sarah Holloway had already looked dangerous the few times she had been able to run with ball in hand, choosing to attack blind off the reliable Bath set piece on a number of occasions and almost freeing runners. After a beasting run from Keddie sucked in several defenders, Holloway spotted a mismatch on the blindside of the ruck. Calling for quick ball, she made a strong break and despite a brave tackle from the covering Plymouth full-back, snuck an offload to Steph Harris in support, who scored. Holloway converted to give Bath the lead 7-0.
Following the Bath try, Plymouth came back with great energy, still dominating in both possession and territory, though Bath defence performed well. However, ten minutes later, the home side’s defence was unlocked by some impressive link play from the Plymouth backline, the visiting inside centre running a loop and then showing good footwork to beat three Bath defenders and score.
Both teams kicked and countered with vigour in the period just before the break, aiming to swing momentum their way, but the match remained 7–7 at halftime.
Bath started the second half trying to attack from deep, though struggled against a very efficient Plymouth defence, while Holloway attempted to find some space with several nudges behind. However, Plymouth countered strongly off her kicks, with their back three quick to see space and challenge the Bath organisation. Both teams were still conceding penalties and when Bath were pinged for another high tackle under their own posts, Plymouth were quick to take the chance for the lead, kicking to bring the score to 7-10.
Shortly afterwards, impressive breaks from centre, Catt Davidson and Gilpin took Bath into the opposition 22, where Plymouth were penalised for an intentional knock on. Sarah Holloway slotted the kick, and Bath equal the score 10–10.
At fifty minutes, a fantastic drive off a Bath lineout on their 22 brought them up to halfway, and though the ball failed to go to hand in the centres, wing Zoe Gabbidon picked up the bumbling ball and went on a storming run, breaking seven Plymouth tackles and bringing Bath back into Plymouth’s half. Plymouth turned the ball over, but quickly knocked on, and Keddie carried on Bath’s momentum with a powerful pick and go from the base of the resulting scrum. Holloway attempted a drop goal, and though it was charged down, the crowd seemed to sense a renewed energy in the Bath side.
Both sides continued to play positive rugby, looking to attack from everywhere on the pitch, though once again the errors crept in, with knock ons and missed kicks to touch bouncing possession around and meaning that both sides failed to build momentum. Bath’s scrum had functioned well all day, but particularly was a huge positive in the final quarter, driving the big Plymouth pack back on a number of occasions.
At 65 minutes, Bath found themselves defending a scrum on their five metre. The Bath pack stayed strong and wing Alice Evans found space through the middle, breaking to gain 40 metres and offloading to Harris who continued Bath’s momentum. Though initially isolated, support arrived quickly from Becky Thompson and Shantell Hearn, who cleared out Plymouth defenders to ensure quick ball. The spirited Bath attack continued, though unfortunately the home side weren’t able to capitalise on their strongest chance of the second half when a clear overlap out wide went unconverted.
The game remained at a stalemate into its final moments. Off a Bath scrum, Holloway attacked blind and freed Harris into space, who made inroads into Plymouth’s 22 before a strong tackle put her down, and Plymouth were penalised for hands in the resulting ruck.
The final few minutes were fast and furious, as both sides traded kicks and counter-attacks. Plymouth had a final chance after Bath were penalised for not releasing and the visitors chose to run the ball from deep in their own 22. It was not to be, as, frustrated by another knock on, Bath were awarded a final scrum. Bath lost possession and a desperate Plymouth quickly shipped the ball to a pacey winger who made a dangerous final break up the east touchline. But a big tackle from Steph Harris dislodged the ball. The referee sounded the final whistle as the ball trundled into touch, and Bath had won the fixture 13–10.
The win meant that Bath moved to the top of the table with 62 points, while a losing bonus point for Plymouth Albion put them one point behind.