Pushover for rugby women
Olivia White
The Oxford Women's Rugby Football Club (OUWRFC), defending BUSA champions, opened their season Wednesday with a resounding 57-10 victory over Marjons.
The OUWRFC had defeated Marjons 37-5 in last year's BUSA semi-final so this match was an ideal early season test. Despite the departure of old Blues and the relative inexperience of the squad, the Blues played a disciplined and structured game. Marjons, also fielding a young team, struggled to respond.
Oxford lock Beth Sage fielded the first kick-off and ran it straight at the Marjons pack. Quick ruck ball was interfered with by an offside Marjon forward, leading to an Oxford scrum. Despite inferior size, the Blues drove Marjons back, establishing a dominance in the scrum that lasted for the remainder of the match. Several minutes later, an Oxford line-out at the Marjons 22, and a marvellously executed back-line move got the ball to winger Jacqui Street for a try in the left hand corner.
As the half progressed, the Blues looked increasingly sharp. Two more tries were scored in quick succession by Street. Another try was added by Vicki Etiebet, who barrelled through three Marjons defenders to score beneath the posts.
Marjons recovered strongly, their outside centre interpreting a pass and sprinting 50 metres for a try. But Oxford responded immediately. An attempted Marjons clearance from behind their own line was blocked by Oxford flanker Olivia White, and centre Andrea Iaboni fell on it for the Blues' fourth try of the half. Oxford winger Rebecca Syed then scored a fifth try in the right hand corner.
The second half began as the first had ended, Marjons becoming increasingly tired and sloppy. Scorers were captain and Swedish international fly-half Ulrika Andersson, prop Clare Cottle, and White and Syed, who added two more tries. Cottle was also given the Deloitte & Touche (team sponsors) player of the match award for her excellent open play and dominance in the scrum.
28th Oct 1999