Nenagh Ormond V’s Villelongue De La Salanque

Nenagh Ladies welcomed the Villelongue team to Ireland on the Saturday evening and introduced them to many of Irish and Nenagh customs

A late kick off of 14.30 was called for the Sunday afternoon game, even though the teams had enjoyed each other’s company the night before there was a shield to play for and the Nenagh Ladies knew it was going to be difficult game. Nenagh started well with retaining position from the kick off, but the physicality of the French women around the rucks and mauls caused a quick turn over within 5 minutes of kick off. Some quick hands and an easy passage gave the visitors an opening try between the posts. They converted for the extras and left the score at 07-0 against Nenagh. Again Nenagh competed well from the kick off and managed to force the French back into their own 22, but once again the French team played well around the fringes and then spun the ball wide for an easy try against the lagging Nenagh side. Leaving the scores in the opening 10minutes at 14-0. Nenagh decided to switch on and play on the third restart.

They threatened well through the centre, playing quick balls off the ground, good scrummaging against a considerably larger pack and eventually worked their way down to the Villelongue try line. Some poor ball handling held them off the line a couple of times but eventually through a good break from Genavive Rowland and offloaded to a charging Kyla Maxwell who crashed over the whitewash for a 5 pointer close to the posts. Maxwell then slotted for the full 07 points. Leaving the score at 14-07 in the opening 20 minutes.

As this was a friendly it was played in three twenty minute slots. The second gambit saw a few changes to the Nenagh side and an addition of a Nenagh player to the visitors back line as Breda Doheny decided to help the understaffed visitors. Again it took Nenagh the first ten minutes to wake up to the visitors attacks. Some loose defending saw the visitors slowly work their way back up the pitch and score out wide, making the conversion too difficult for the French number ten to complete. Nenagh were down but they were not beaten and they came back fighting from the restart, again the scrum was an integral part of Nenagh moving forward. Eventually Kyla Maxwell crossed the line out wide for an unconverted 5 pointer.

The third part of the game saw the teams mix together and this was the end of the competitive edge of the game. But the teams still played all out even if communication was an issue within the two teams. The score stood from the end of the second of 12-19 to the visitors who took the shield back to France with them but don’t worry the Nenagh ladies plan on making a competitive visit to Villelongue next year. We would really like to thank all of our visitor for coming and helping us end our season on a high note, not just the team but also their travelling committee of 12 or more.

Although the season has come to an end we will still be involved in the TAG rugby that is running in Nenagh Ormond on Friday evenings and would be happy to welcome any player interested in joining throughout the summer. Thanks to all who coached us throughout the year and all the side-line support we have had.

Villelongue De La Salanque