HAMILTON and Ardrossan Accies women were the last teams to play a competitive fixture in Scotland before the suspension of rugby came into place at 6pm on Sunday, with Hamilton’s Lorraine Snaddon marking the occasion by scoring a remarkable 42 points in an 87-5 triumph for her team
In the aftermath of Scottish Rugby announcing on Friday afternoon that the all matches and training would be suspended from 6pm on Sunday evening, several clubs took matters into their own hands and called-off their matches, leaving just eight men’s league games going ahead across the country on either Friday evening or Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, on the women’s side of things, two Sarah Beaney Cup ties, two National Plate and two National Bowl matches were scheduled for Sunday, but in the end only one went ahead on the 3G pitch at Dalziel Park.
Both teams thoroughly enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and getting a game in, but it was Hamilton who enjoyed it more as they came out on top comfortably. The result puts them top of the pool, above Stornoway on points difference, but there are still a number of rearranged games to potentially be played – depending on how the Covid-19 crisis develops – before the knock-out stages.
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Snaddon was on fire for Hamilton, scoring four tries and kicking an amazing 11 conversions for a brilliant personal points haul. Olivia Quinn (2), Gillian Frew, Ailsa Neilson, Emma Stormonth (2), Siobhan Spiers and Carey Pegrum (2) also scored tries for the victors.
“The game was played at a high tempo throughout by both teams looking for openings to attack,” said Hamilton head coach Aiden Curran. “Our ball retention and ability to pass the ball quickly through the hands resulted in some superb tries with the first half ending 42-0.
“The second half resumed with a quick score early on. Ardrossan then had a period with the ball and this resulted in a number of penalties being awarded and from the resulting scrum the ball was passed out to the right hand side to allow for a score in the corner. We refocused and began to find spaces through the middle of the Ardrossan defensive line and Lorraine’s kicking was impressive as she made 11 out of 13 conversions.
“After what was a competitive and, at times, hard hitting game the teams celebrated the game of rugby back at Hamilton Rugby Club in the clubhouse at Laigh Bent afterwards.”
Chloe Wilson scored their sole try on her debut for Ardrossan and they never gave up. “It was a fairly well contested game played in high spirits and it was good natured,” the Ardrossan Accies head coach Gary Duncan said. “Hamilton ran in tries with some good play, but our team never gave up.
The coach was disappointed with the result but is confident that neither that one game, or the enforced layoff, will knock the team off their stride as they look to continue growing the club and the game.
“As it was the last game in unsure times a real rugby ethos was definitely evident within both teams,” he said. “There were plenty of positives to take away from the match and when the all-clear to play and train is given going forward we will reset and go again.”
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