Ladies 14 Thirsk Sharks 10
By Frank Stormont
November 22 2006
Plymouth Albion Ladies entertain Thirsk and get an unexpected win. Albion move out of relegation position half way through the season.
Albion Ladies 14
Thirsk Sharks 10
Thirsk had an early chance on 6 minutes when they were awarded a penalty 35 metres out and the kick for goal was short and to the right. But within 10 minutes Thirsk fly half scored an individual try after she had picked the ball up on the half way line and ran for the line, dodging the tackles before being tackled a metre short but as she went down she managed to fall over the line to score the first points of the match. The try was not converted.
On 15 minutes the Thirsk fly half was on the run again for the corner and passed out to her inside centre who was bundled into touch with a high tackle short of the line and Thirsk awarded a penalty. The Thirsk centre picked up a knee injury in the tackle and played no further part in the match.
Thirsk tap the penalty before passing towards the centre of the pitch but were judged to have made a forward pass in front of the posts.
If the first 20 minutes were Thirsk's, Albion had decided that the next were going to be theirs. With pressure being applied to the Thirsk defence and it was rewarded on 28 minutes. Jo Holden making progress before a ruck was formed and with quick recycling the ball was passed out to Tally Francis on the wing to go over on the left to draw level. The all important boot of Tracy Corby added the extras.
At the end of the first half the play had been fairly even but Albion had the important extras with the boot. Thirsk had missed three attempts at goal. Thirsk were also winning most of the scrummages had Albion were defiantly holding their own in the mauls but loosing many balls in the rucks.
Thirsk scored again 10 minutes into the second half with their outside centre running through the Albion defence to put the ball down between the posts. With Thirsk yet to make a successful place kick at goal they decided to drop kick from in front of the posts but the kick from the easiest place on the pitch was missed. Thirsk were back in the lead.
The match was still very even between the two teams as an Albion supporter you were willing them to across the line and Thirsk were hoping for another try to seal the match but mainly defending Albion pushes for the line.
With the play getting more physical Tracy Corby was sin binned for retaliation. Thirsk however were unable to take the advantage of the extra player as Albion stepped up to the mark.
Thirsk had an easy opportunity with Thirsk having 3 on two only 15 metres out but instead of passing out to the overlap they passed in and were held short of the line.
Even with the player down it looked as though Albion could add points to the board and after a bad pass back from the Thirsk scrum Albion pounced on the ball and made an unsuccessful dash for the line.
Being back to full strength Albion were awarded a penalty in front of the posts less than 10 metres from the line but with Thirsk not being back behind the line they were awarded another on the 5 metre line. In the second minute of injury time Albion made no mistakes and the pack took the ball over the line for Anna Shepard to touch down, which Tracy converted to bring the final score to 14 - 10.
Albion had to wait another 5 minutes of injury time before their win could be confirmed.
Albion were not the favourites going into the match sitting second from bottom and Thirsk doing well both at home and away and sitting second from top.
Team: Tracy Corby, Tally Francis, Anna Shepard, Kim Davey, Sonia Clatworthy, Nancy Stone, Georgie Rozzario, Jenny Dyer, Jo Holden, Vee Thompson, Sarah Curtis, Helen Duffin, Terri Cormack, Rachel Chidgey, Sam Bunyan Replacements: Claire Steer(used), Paula Bennet-Smith(used), Jenny March, Megan Higgins, Jodie Wrey, Jade Willoughby, Beth Simmons(used)
Scorers :- Tries Anna Shepard, Tally Francis Conversions 2x Tracy Corby
Halfway through the season Albion have pulled themselves out of the relegation zone and will be looking forward to their clash with Waterloo before the men's match on Saturday. (K.O. 11:30)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Bon | Pts |
| Clifton | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 405 | 30 | 5 | 37 |
| Saracens II | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 210 | 199 | 4 | 28 |
| Thirsk | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 218 | 120 | 5 | 25 |
| Richmond II | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 177 | 132 | 4 | 24 |
| Waterloo | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 129 | 170 | 2 | 24 |
| Wasps II | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 143 | 196 | 4 | 20 |
| Old Albanians | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 98 | 78 | 2 | 18 |
| Albion | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 127 | 157 | 2 | 16 |
| Leos | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 102 | 135 | 6 | 14 |
| Rosslyn Park | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 21 | 413 | 0 | 0 |
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