Ladies 1st XV 66 - 5 Shrewsbury Ladies

Squad: Steph Beddall, Vickie Merrick, Rachel Webley, Rebecca Jenkinson, Wendy Jackson, Helen Simonds, Caroline Jackson, Katie Yates, Abigail Wilkes, Amy Dollery, Melissa McCala, Jen McKeown, Caroline Safe, Lauren Johnson, Vickie Blunt, Jussica Faulkes, Adele Littler, Charlie Pugh, Deb Harris

Stourbridge started the game brightly gaining territory into the Shrews bury 22, but a lost lineout and clearance kick by the home side brought play back to halfway. A second lost line out allowed Shrewsbury to attack the Stourbridge defence, but a knock on allowed Katie Yates to pick up the loose ball and evade the covering tackles to score from 40m out, Vickie Merrick converting the try to give Stourbridge a 0-7 lead.
Stourbridge continued to press forward and a penetrating run by Melissa McCalla set up a ruck for the forwards to secure the ball and Wendy Jackson then broke free to go over in the corner (0-12).
Fly half Caroline Jackson caught the restart and spotting a gap on the blind side made space for Melisa McCalla to evade the defence and score under the posts, with Vickie Merrick converting (0-19). Melissa McCalla continued her rich vein of form when an excellent drive by the forwards enabled the ball to be moved wide through the backs for her to score her second try (0-24).
Despite these four tries Shrewsbury did not give up, and a series of excellent offloads, took the home side into the Stourbridge 22. A penalty then enabled them to set up good field position and from a secure ruck, the Shrewsbury forwards muscled their way through the Stourbridge defence to score a deserved try (5-24).
Mistakes by both teams and an uncharacteristically high penalty count from the over eager Stourbridge side, saw play confined to the middle of the pitch. A half break by Katie Yates took play to the Shrewsbury 22, where a series of off-loads by Rachel Webley, Rebecca Jenkinson and Helen Simonds  reached Steph Beddall to dive over and score, with Vicky Merrick converting the try (5-31).
Shrewsbury when keeping the ball close to the pack always looked dangerous and on a number of occasions they managed to stop the Stourbridge maul and turnover the ball. It was then Stourbridge’s turn to steal a Shrewsbury maul and fly half Caz Jackson strode over the try line with the last play of the half. V. Merrick converted (5-38).

Stourbridge made several changes for the second half and replacement scrum half Lauren Johnson took a quick tap penalty just in the Stourbridge half to send front row forward Steph Beddall to scythe through the Shrewsbury defence from 50m out to score, V.Merrick converting (5-45).
Shrewsbury continued to battle and a good a good passage of play was foiled by Amy Dollery’s interception to score unopposed (5-52).Shrewsbury continued to battle and a blindside  break by their fly half was only stopped be a try saving covering tackle by Lauren Johnson .

Despite Stourbridge’s dominance Shrewbury discovered their second wind, forcing Stourbridge onto the back foot, threatening the Stourbridge 22. A Shrewsbury knock on saw Melissa McCall recover the ball and sprint ¾ the length of the pitch to seal her hat trick. From the resulting kick Melissa McCalla turned provider, passing to Abi Wilkes to breach the home sides defence to score from over 50m for the last play of the match. Vickie Merrick converting both tries (5-66).

Thank you to all supporters, friends and families for their support in all the away games this season. The players and coaching staff really appreciate it! Thank you to Shrewsbury Ladies for staging the match despite injury and availability problems.