Wellington RFC Vixens took league leaders Wiveliscombe Ladies to the wire in their NC3 South West Central clash on Friday evening, writes Hugh Barrett.
Wiveliscombe took to the field until the Athletic Ground lights knowing they needed to win with a bonus point to secure the league title.
The Vixens won the toss and opted to play up the slope. From the kick off, both sides went hammer and tongs at each other, trying to attack only to see strong defences halt plays short of the try line.
After 20 minutes, Wiveliscombe were first to score after a well weighted chip over the Vixens saw the ariel battle won by the visiting player who raced in to score wide out. The extras were missed.
Minutes later, from a sustained period of attack, the Wiveliscombe forwards drove over to score their second just wide of the posts with the extras added.
This stirred the Vixens into action and they produced some of their best attacking rugby of the season so far.
The forwards drove up the park and, due to a number of penalties for high tackles by Wiveliscombe, found themselves on the opposition 22 when the ball was worked wide to outside centre Lisa Jenkins who sped over wide out to score the Vixens’ first try. The extras were missed.
Play recommenced with the Vixens tails up and they attacked at every opportunity. Further indiscipline from a Wiveliscombe player resulted in a yellow card.
From the resulting penalty, the Vixens went through a number of phases of play with the forwards setting a good platform deep in the opposition half. The ball was worked wide at speed to Maxine Pontin who raced in to score just wide of the posts and she converted her own try.
The half-time whistle went seeing the scoreline stand at Vixens 12pts, Wiveliscombe 12.
The second half commenced with Wiveliscombe applying a lot of pressure on the Vixens try line, but some huge defending saw them repelled on numerous occasions.
The game became an arm wrestle in centre field before a defensive mistake saw the Wiveliscombe scrum half race over wide out to score their third. The extras were missed.
The Vixens then bounced back, applying a lot of pressure on the opposition, and a chip through saw full back Violet Coppin gather the ball and race in for their third. The extras were missed.
Wiveliscombe realised they were in a game and had to dig deep to produce their last try. From sustained period of pressure in the Vixens 22, they scored wide of the posts. The extras were missed.
The Vixens then attacked from their own half and the ball was worked out wide quickly to speedster Pontin. With the afterburners on she raced over the try line to dot the ball down to tie the scores, only for the “try” to be disallowed as her foot was adjudged to have been in touch.
The final whistle went with the score standing at Vixens 17pts, Wiveliscombe 22.
Congratulations to Wiveliscombe on securing the league title and promotion after was an enthralling game of rugby.
The Vixens’ final league game is next Saturday, kick-off 12 noon.
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