Main and Dunbar team up against Kilmarnock
Ardrossan Accies Ladies put in a series of strong performances at the Tri Social Gathering 10s tournament, held at Bellsland in Kilmarnock on Saturday 20th May. They beat the hosts twice – and recorded a draw against Falkirk Ladies – before losing to Falkirk in their final match, fatigue and injuries taking their toll.
In the opener against Killie the Accies lost an early try – too many players were sucked in at the breakdown allowing the hosts to take advantage out wide. But Ardrossan struck back with three tries from scrums; fly half Shelley Main attacking the line before putting wingers Davee Sang and Ellie Munro into space. Main got two tries herself in this first game, on her way to an impressive total of seven in the tournament. The game ended 4-2 to the Accies using the scoring system for the day.
Next, Falkirk Ladies lined up against the Accies for only their second ever game – but they showed few signs of nervousness or inexperience, scoring three tries in a hard fought draw.
Hooker Louise Welsh was one of the strongest carriers for the Accies, scoring four tries in three games including two against Kilmarnock as the teams met for their second game. Again Accies lost the first try but fought back, winning 5-2. The game also saw a red card for dangerous play when a Killie player made cynical contact with scrum half Shelagh Milligan. The match ended early with a serious knock to one of the Kilmarnock players.
The final match against Falkirk resulted in a defeat for the Accies, who were beaten 4-2. Injuries to Sang and Munro blunted the ladies’ cutting edge – it was also the third game in very quick succession for Ardrossan.
The ladies were delighted to welcome Lisa Ledingham-Park, making her debut in an Accies shirt. The team finished the Social Gathering in a respectable 4th place in a table which included results from the men’s, women’s and mixed ability teams.