Week 5 of BUCS saw the Women’s Blues head across the border into long uncharted territory to take on Swansea University RFC. The challenge was anticipated, and with most players lining up out of their usual positions due to injury complications, the team knew we would have a lot of hard work ahead of us. So, as the match kicked off at 14:00, the Blues flew into the game with a burst of energy and promise as we struck first blood with an epic try. Scrum-half Lucy Hamer sniped through a gap in the Welsh defence, drawing in the green shirts to make way for fly-half Lilla Berry to charge the ball over the line. Melissa Morley, who was running with the backs for the first time, secured the conversion to take the score to 7-0 before the first 20 minutes was up. The Blues continued to dominate as the game went on, storming into Swansea’s half and making ground with a few excellent carries by number 8 Tolu Duckworth, though we struggled to convert these opportunities. The opposition responded with a try of their own shortly before halftime, narrowing the score to 7-5 at the break.
Unfortunately the second half told a different story. Swansea returned to the game with a renewed intensity and gained territory by capitalising on a series of handling errors and penalties from the Blues. We fought back vehemently with a strong defensive effort, and the green shirts had to work hard to score past our efforts. Though working with only a small number of subs to hand, our energy gradually began to slip, and the scoreline grew wider as a result.
Aside from our try, perhaps the highlight of the game was Swansea’s amusing blunder in the second half. Though the university boasts their multi-functional sports facilities (the field conveniently served as both a rugby and a football pitch) this somehow seemed to be more confusing for the home team than it was for the visitors. In an attempt to score again, Swansea looked a little silly when they began celebrating their try a few metres too early, touching the ball down over the white and not the yellow lines, a opportune mistake which renewed our possession of the ball. In the last few minutes the Blues were back on the attacking front, but it was not enough to win the game.
While the 29-7 result was disappointing, under our circumstances there were moments of pride for the Blues to take away. The opening try was a testament to our ability to create opportunities under pressure, and the team's commitment to competing until the final whistle was commendable.
There are better games to come, as we look forward to heading to Bath this week where we hope to remain victorious against this newly promoted side.
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