Ivybridge travelled to Monks Lane for the cup semi-final against Newbury Women.
The match was to be a dog fight from the off with Ivybridge sitting top of the league and Newbury wanting to prove something after the narrow defeat to Launceston last week.

The game was off to a flying start with Newbury kicking to Ivybridge and bringing a hard defensive line to meet the travelling team. It would not be long before Newbury would be able to showcase their scrum dominance forcing Ivybridge back scrum after scrum.

An Ivybridge line out was fumbled by them, but they managed to remain in possession. As they advanced up the pitch their ruck discipline was penalised and the Blues gained a penalty.

A kick for touch was caught on field by the Ivybridge winger and with a hard line she cut through reaching Newbury players. The forward momentum was halted and Newbury’s defence continued to push hard forcing Ivybridge to kick to the back field. A neat clear up by Meg Carter and a clearance kick would have seen the Blues safely out of their 22 but a chance chase down brought the ball over the line and Ivybridge were able to dot it down for the try.

The dog fight continued for the first half with Newbury pushing Ivybridge into their 22 and challenging the line and it would be Meg Carter who would bring the Blues onto the score board. A dominant scrum would force Ivybridge back and smooth hands from the backs would open space on the left-hand side to crash through and bring the score to 7-5.

The second half brought much of the same aggression and momentum for the Blues, being able to shut down Ivybridge’s advances and maintaining their own possession. With ball in play, Newbury moved the ball the width of the pitch to try and find a way through the Ivybridge defence. This patience would pay off when ball was gathered from a line out and charged up the pitch in phases creeping closer towards the try line. Ivybridge were drawn into the rucks and this allowed debutant, Alex Knight to be shipped the ball through the back line and out into the wing where she crashed through the away defence and over the line.

The Blues fought on trying to bring the score closer, but Ivybridge acted on a knock-on advantage from Newbury in the centre of the park and utilised their pacy back line to whip the ball into space and find a gap on the wing where they nipped round to gain a further try. This brought the score to 10-12 putting Ivybridge back in the lead.

Retaliation from the Blues forced them back up the pitch and choosing to scrum for the penalties showed further aggression up front from the forwards. It would again be Meg Carter who would cross the line having been set up by Meg Mason and Lizzie Harris as fast hands moved the ball slickly away from Ivybridge’s tight defence.

The game remained tight to the end but a final attack from Ivybridge and a penalty awarded in front of the posts allowed them enough to go forward to draw in Newbury’s defence around the breakdown and release their centre on the outside to break the defence and score to take the lead.

Next week sees both the 1st and 2nd XV at home on Sunday 8th March to celebrate International Women’s Day. Get down to Monks Lane to support the league fixtures.