Sandal Warriors started their League campaign away at Selby in very wet conditions but came away with the win after a tough encounter with a team who played together all last year in the inner warrior league. Selby proved tough opposition for a Sandal team playing its first competitive game in 2 years.

The Warrriors were made up of a mixture of returning players, players from last years U18s & some players making their full Rugby debuts !

Sandal received the kick from Selby to start the match and started to try & put into practice the work done in training over the last 12 weeks. Imy Coxon at 9 & Grace Bagshaw at 10 started to get the forwards moving, with Katie Heaps, Keira Vickers & Abi Dickinson making good yards allowing the ball to be recycled to the backs. Slick hands from Mosley & Seabridge got the ball to the edge several times, with the final pass just going astray & the poor weather leading to a few dropped balls. With lineouts not being a big focus at training so far an unconventional tactic was used, throwing wing/Full Back Courtney Evans up in the lineout, winning all of our own ball to good effect, Courtney also used her pace and footwork to make several searing breaks.

The first try for Sandal started with a sweet grubber into the corner from 10 Grace Bagshaw just missed out on by Agnes Simons. From the resulting lineout the ball was moved to mid field, & after several phases Abi Dickinson used her power to barge over for Sandals’ first try wide on the left, conversion was missed. Selby were intent on scrumming at every opportunity, even the penalties they were awarded, but the scrum machine practice the Ladies have had worked well, with Sandal pushing Selby back and making their ball back foot and slow all the time. There was strong tackling from the whole team, but Agnes Simons put in some massive hits along with Keira Vickers.

Sandals second try came after a sustained bout of pressure on the Selby line, Selby attempted to clear but it was charged down by Mosley & up popped Coxon to touch it down under the posts, Bagshaw converting.

Half Time 12-0 to Sandal

The second half started with Sandal constantly pressuring the Selby back line and causing handling errors, from a resulting scrum the ball was once again moved wide from Bagshaw and Full Back Simons crossed the line wide & went under the posts for Bagshaw to convert.
Selby then got back into the game when a kick through from Bagshaw appeared to have been fumbled forward but wasn’t given, Selby then hit a broken field and desperate defence pushed them wide to score in the corner, conversion missed. Sandal hit straight back with Mosley & Evans combining to put Ella Greensmith into the corner, Bagshaw missing the Conversion.

The game then turned into an arm wrestle with scrum after scrum. Sandal were getting frustrated and the penalty count was getting higher & higher, this pressure led to Selby once again scoring in the corner, conversion missed.

Sandal’s gameplay then became more fluid & with Parker & Vickers hitting the line gaps opened, from this Robyn Patterson got the ball in her own half and outpaced the Selby Defence to score under the posts, Bagshaw converting.

The last try came from quick work by Abi Dickinson at a quick tap to force her way over the line for her 2nd try, Bagshaw missing the conversion. This meant Sandal came out 36-10 Winners in their return to league Rugby.

Keira Vickers was voted Forward of the Match for her hard running & tackling all game.

Agnes Simons was voted Back of the Match for her running, distribution & hard tackling.

Robyn Patterson was voted the Oppositions player of the match.

A special mention must go to Cara Baker, Amanda Wilson, Kate Thompson & Vicki Greensmith for all playing their first Competitive match of Rugby, Katie Heaps & Mollie Keane for their Sandal Debuts & the whole team for helping build this fantastic atmosphere within the ladies team. Next up Malton & Norton next Sunday.

Selby 10 – Sandal 36

Sandal Tries:
Abi Dickinson – 1
Imy Coxon – 1
Agnes Simons – 2
Ella Greensmith – 1
Robyn Patterson – 1
Conversions :
Grace Bagshaw – 3