Oban Lorne power their way to BT Women’s Bowl glory

Oban Lorne powered their way to glory in the BT Women’s Bowl on the back pitches of BT Murrayfield Stadium with an impressive 45-5 win over Garioch this morning.

The first-half was more tense than the scoreline suggests with Garioch opening the scoring through wing Liadh Broughton though Oban Lorne stand-off Lucy Stewart was quick in response to score and take the lead with her conversion, and so it remained for the almost the entirety of a tense first-half (7-5).

The west coast side continued to the knock at the door in the face of resolute Garioch defence until centre Kirsty Sinclair barged over from close range near the interval. Stewart converted.

Half-time: Oban Lorne 14-5 Garioch

The second-half was, however, a different affair and, after a bright start from the Aberdeenshire outfit, Oban Lorne showcased their power across the field.

Hooker and captain Laura MacCormick, tighthead-prop Ellie MacNiven and centres pairing Sinclair and Erika Skofca were particularly impressive as the women in green ran in five second-half tries: MacNiven, full-back Kelly Lamont (2), number 8 Camilla Leslie and Skofca all touching down.

Stand-off Stewart was a constant threat throughout the game to bring these players into play, a feat she matched from the kicking tee, converting five from seven on the day.

Oban Lorne Head Coach, Corrie Louw, said: “I said it was going to be a hard game, especially against a club from the league above and our mistakes cost us when we were in their 22 and didn’t score.

“I said at half-time, if we can keep the ball and go forward, we’ll get in behind them and have the speed to finish off the tries and that’s what we did. A great finish.”

Full-time: Oban Lorne 45-5 Garioch

Garioch: Kay Chan; Liadh Broughton, Rebecca Bestwick, Nikki Simpson, Rheo Laurenson; Ailie Dewar, Elizabeth Baroch; Josie Shaw, Stephanie Campbell, Kimberley Eades, Alisha Ross, Chloe Matthews, Jess Silcocks CAPTAIN,Natalie Grimbleyy, Tina McIntosh. Substitutes: Anna Newsome, Kimberley Jamieson, Bethany Bass, Elaine Nichol, Mandy Kerr, Holly Nicholson, Kerri Yule

Oban Lorne: Kelly Lamont; Ellen Barlow, Erika Skofca, Kirsty Sinclair, Sophia Rosinski; Lucy Stewart, Audrey Barr; Georgia Mitchell, Laura MacCormick CAPTAIN, Ellie MacNiven, Selina Kelpie, Rebecca Sims, Ailsa MacLachlan, Eilidh Shearer, Camilla Leslie. Substitutes: Nienke Van Geal, Veronica Speirsm, Claire MacPherson, Hannah Cringles, Rachel MacDonald, Liz Cromer, Jenny Farthing.