York RI Ladies suffered defeat away to Preston Grasshoppers in their first league match since promotion to North 2. The match was much more competitive than the scoreline suggests with Preston being made to work hard for all of their points. RI competed well up front with plenty of big tackles and good rucking and mauling. However, Preston had a lot of speed on the wing and when an overlap came used the space to their advantage. Strong running from the RI captain Natalie Johnson and number eight Sarah Webster kept RI moving forward but the team could never quite convert pressure to cross the line. This first match of the season gives RI a solid platform to work from with good teamwork and some excellent individual displays, most notably from new winger and man of the match Rebecca Beard who made some superb tackles. RI next play away at Halifax in a friendly fixture on the 19th November.
This Sunday York RI Ladies travelled to the top of a large hill in Halifax to play a friendly fixture against Halifax Vandals. RI started brightly and, after several charging runs from the forwards, took advantage of a maul on the line for Jess Frith to go over. This pressure was quickly followed up with good work from the backs outpacing the Vandals defence to score another try from winger Ruth Laybourn. RI then came under more pressure and a Vandals overlap resulted in them scoring a try in the corner but this was quickly counteracted by man-of-the-match Zi Holman who was unstoppable in making a storming run across the tryline. RI scored twice more before half time with good handling from RI creating space for Sarah Webster to drive over and finally with a trademark sprint from centre Julie Pease.
RI opened the scoring again in the second half with Pippa Hartley touching down after another break from Ruth Laybourn. The Vandals number 8 charged over the line from the back of a scrum to take the score to 34-10 but the rest of the half saw much back and forth action with the Vandals using the most of the wind and hill to nullify any York attacks. It was a good performance from all and RI will look forward with confidence to their North 2 fixture on Sunday 26th November against Leeds Leos II.
York RI Ladies drew against Leeds Leos II in a North 2 fixture this weekend. RI started well and early pressure took them ahead when good work by the forwards created space for a breakaway try from fullback Anna Coombs which was converted by Julie Pease. RI came under pressure for much of the rest of the half but solid defending kept them ahead at half time.
Leos continued to pressure RI in the second half with a try held up over the line. RI spent much of the half defending in their own 22 but this held solid and RI came close to extending their lead when Anna Coombs made another break and was tackled just short of the line. Leos pressurised again and scored in the final minute of the match with a penalty taken quickly from 5 metres out. This was converted to level the scores and without time for RI to respond the match ended a draw.
York RI Ladies hosted the RAF ladies rugby team to a friendly this weekend. RI started slightly hesitantly but soon realised that they could make this a competitive match and had pinned the RAF back into their own 22. A score was not forthcoming though and it was only through some excellent last chance tackling from Ruth Laybourn and Julie Pease that RI prevented the RAF counterattack from scoring a breakaway try. The RAF scored soon after, with an unconverted try, but good work from RI kept them in the match with a half time score of 5-0.
RI continued to play well in the second half with strong tackles and commitment from all the team. The backs found more space and made good ground, especially back-of-the-match Su Walker pirouetting up the pitch, but could never cross the line. Eventually, the fitness of the RAF began to show and, with the wind against them, RI could not contain them. The RAF scored four tries before the final whistle but RI rallied to the end and never gave up. The final score 25-0.
All in all it was a performance for RI to be proud of and special mention should go to Faye Mortenson in her first match as prop, winger Becca Beard who played at second row and Joyce Davis in her first ever rugby match. Well done!
York RI Ladies travelled to Manchester for their first league match of 2007 and came away with a comfortable win. Both teams took some time to get into the match but York were immediately the stonger side and it wasn't long before Julie Pease broke through a tackle to cross the line. York dominated the rest of the half and scored three more tries from Becca Beard, Julie Pease and Jess Frith.
Throughout the second half the Manchester defence managed to keep York back but eventually the pressure told and good work from York created an overlap for winger Laura Dolby to score in the corner. Much of the rest of the half was in the Manchester 22 but York couldn't quite cross the line. In the final minutes Manchester gained good lineout position from a penalty and managed to break the York defence for their only try of the match. With no time for York to reply the match ended 25-5 to York RI.
York RI Ladies beat Preston Grasshoppers at home this weekend. York started with the strong wind against them and were gradually forced backwards by Preston, who capitalised on the early pressure to score and convert the first try of the match. RI came back, scoring from a brilliant individual break by Ruth Laybourn but shortly afterwards some missed tackles saw the Preston outside-centre cross the line to take Preston further ahead. RI rallied and good rucking by the forwards took RI up the field. This work was rewarded when the ball was quickly passed out wide from the back of a scrum. Ruth Laybourn shrugged off tackles to cross the line again and keep York in contention at half time.
With the wind on their side York spent the start of the second half just short of the tryline but good defense from Preston managed to keep them from driving over. A turnover saw the ball go to Preston and the ball was taken up the field without York having managed to take advantage of the pressure. The next part of the match saw a forwards battle with movement back and forth up the field. Finally York made use of the advantage of having the strong wind on their side. In the final ten minutes they spread the ball out to the backs and kicked downfield for Ruth Laybourn to gather and cross the line twice more.
The final score 22-12 to York RI. A good result for RI against a well-organised team.
York RI Ladies are champions of North 2 this season after beating Northwich 32-7 and scoring five tries to gain a bonus point that took them to the top of the table. York RI maintained their unbeaten record at home with a strong display against a well-organised Northwich side. The forwards dominated the scrum and provided a good platform giving the backs plenty of room to run. York RI opened the scoring early on with a try from centre Ruth Laybourn. She followed this up by crossing the line three more times before the end of the match with the fifth try scored by fullback Anna Coombs after Alice Cook made a break from the halfway line.
To win the league this season is a fantastic achievement for the team who were only promoted into North 2 at the start of the season.