This weekend saw Edinburgh 1XVs take on Howe of Fife in the first round of the Sarah Beaney Scottish Cup. Conditions were poor as the girls stepped out onto a wet and muddy pitch at Duffus Park.
The match got off to a shaky start with both teams giving away penalties in the early stages, the slippery ball and difficult conditions proving an obstacle in the game.
The forwards of the Howe Harlequins were putting in big tackles and making the first 20 minutes a very forwards dominated game. Finally Elis Martin broke through the line and scored the first try of the game. Dido was putting up a solid performance at fly half, and in the next phase of play she put in a strong tackle and drove Howe back ten meters. Edinburgh regained the ball and the forwards took it up to left and where it was down to Aimee Dallas to battle past two defenders and take the ball over the line. Her first try for the 1XVs!
The half time score was 10-0 to Edinburgh and by the state of the mud soaked strips it looked as if 80 minutes had already been played! Coach Claire Cruikshank gave an effective team talk at half time and the Uni girls came back in the second half a completely different team. With a much sharper defense and great structure in attack and it didn't take long before Amy Walter got her first try. Walter went on to get a Hat-trick in the second half and was joined by two tries each from Dido and Hannah Septoff. The Howe Harlequins couldn't handle the pace of the back line and the successful breaks took Edinburgh to victory with the final score 49-0.
It was a game of two halves, but success for Edinburgh and they will now advance to the next round. Captain Lucy McMaster said she was delighted with the Edinburgh performance, especially in attack.
Congratulations to Jess McClintick and Raquel Matos for playing their first ever game of rugby and both putting in great performances on the wing!