Albion Ladies 0 Worcester Ladies 58
By L'ours
May 1 2006
National Cup semi final
Albion Ladies 0 Worcester Ladies 58Albion Ladies can hold their heads up high despite this convincing semi final defeat at The Brickfields at the hands of top Premiership 1 side Worcester Ladies.
The portents were not good when Worcester took to the field with a side that included three or four full internationals and the visitors quickly made their class tell in what was an entertaining and well-refereed game.
While Albion were still settling Worcester struck with two tries in the first nine minutes, Scrum half Mel Berry and winger Karina Corner, the latter with the first of her five tries in the game, touching down, and with fly half Jess Morgan converting the first try Albion were 21-0 behind.
Things got no better for Albion who shipped two more tries in three minutes, Corner and flanker Laura Keats crossing to give Worcester a solid 22-0 lead.
At this point Albion began to get to grips with Worcester and started to claim a fair share of possession and territory, and although they never looked like scoring, they at least matched their opponents.
Unfortunately it was Worcester that scored next in the 35th minute, Corner scoring her third try of the game, to virtually seal the tie.
The half sadly then had to be cut short as Worcester right winger Kat Merchant suffered a suspected broken leg in the move leading up to Corner’s try.
The second half again saw Worcester score the first try through lock Gemma Sharples in the 42nd minute and the rest of the second period saw Worcester run in a further four tries at regular intervals through prop Tract Barmer, lock Tina Pearson plus two more for Corner, with Morgan kicking two further conversions.
“We battled well right through the match and will learn from this experience which gives us a benchmark at which to aim,” said Albion Ladies Coach Tony Boyle.
Albion Ladies next game – their last of the season – is next Saturday afternoon, kick off 5pm at The Brickfields, immediately after the Devon County Championship match, when the Ladies entertain Rosslyn Park Ladies in a Premiership 2 game.
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