On a still, slightly misty day at Ruth Menzies Fields, Strathendrick Women’s 1st XV embarked on the next leg of their rugby adventure with their Aberfeldy team-mates. Their opposition today was Edinburgh University so they anticipated a fast-paced, lively game – and so it proved. Edinburgh brought 14 players but ‘Endrick only had 11, so 11-a-side it was, leaving plenty of room for runners (and the visitors with 3 substitutes!).

Edinburgh were quickly on the attack and after a few thrusts up the middle, broke through the home defence and scored the opening try. Directly from the restart the visitors’ No. 9 fielded the kick, and threw an outstanding long pass to the winger who sprinted away to score again. Fortunately place kicking was not the students’ strong point so both tries went unconverted. However, the ‘Endrick Women buckled down to their task and started to retain possession. Both half backs, Lauren Webster and Eilidh Paterson, and hooker, Rebecca Davies, made useful breaks before skipper, Paterson, carved through the Uni defence to reply for the home team. Davies converted to make the score at the break 7 – 12.

From the start of the second period the Strathendrick Women went on the attack, retaining possession and recycling the ball well before Lynsey Fielden – with Becca MacFarlane outside for support – threw a dummy and dived over to score – again well converted by Davies. Against the odds the home team were leading 14-12! But it was not to last and Edinburgh brought pressure to bear and used their pace and the available space to score four more, generally breakaway, tries. The score at the end of the second period was 14 – 32.

Facing a younger, pacier team with more playing resources, spectators wondered if the Fintry women would tire and concede many more tries but it was not to be. Their tackling was determined, they covered the park well in defence and the Uni only scored once more before the home forwards and backs combined well to take play upfield. From a scrum 15m out, the ‘Endrick No. 9, Webster, made a break before feeding Davies, bursting through to touch down. Stout defence kept the visitors at bay before a quickly taken penalty caught the home team on the hop for Uni to speed through for a converted try. As the clock ran down, one more slip allowed the Uni to score a final try to conclude a really competitive, entertaining, game. Final score 19 – 51.

As Captain, Eilidh Paterson told her team afterwards, the Strathendrick Women have made great strides in just a few months playing together and they should be proud of their efforts.

NH