Senior Women Playoff Game Recap

<![CDATA[The Nomads Senior Women are nearing the end of the season with a crucial playoff match against a young and explosive Oshawa Vikings outfit. An almost Amazonian atmosphere highlighted the struggle that the Nomads ladies would face in this game, adding to the pressure of the occasion. This was a big game for flanker Jess Wong, who was named as captain in the absence of Jenn Russell.

The game started with two evenly matched teams with different game plans, the Nomads relying on the competition’s best forward pack and some clever backs, compared to a smaller more agile team who looked to move the ball around and find any space where available.

After 20-30 minutes, the Nomads had enjoyed what would have been 90% possession but lacked the killer instinct to finish off the numerous chances that came their way. The onset of heavy rain had both players and spectators collecting two of every animal and ducking for cover. The players on the other hand were delighted as they had a reprieve from the heat, with the change in conditions drastically altering the course of the game.

Swift catch and pass put fullback Natalie Rosecky away for a well worked try as the momentum swung the Nomads way, a reward for the forwards laying the platform up front. Oshawa came back just before the halftime break, scoring in the corner and levelling the scores at 5-5.

The second half mirrored the first as the Nomads forwards dominated both scrum and line-out, paving the way for a well worked try highlighted by the deft offload of prop Caroline Aksich, who put winger Maddy Biggs away to take the score to 10-5.

The back line again showed their class in tricky conditions, setting up a try for winger Tierra Escoffery in the corner to take the score to 15-5. This put the nail deeper in to the coffin, however Oshawa had other funeral plans as they turned the hammer around and pulled that nail back out, scoring under the post to bring the score back to 15-12 with 9 minutes left.

A huge defensive effort from the Nomads stopped run after run, with the Oshawa team coming up against a brick wall that was determined not to yield. After several minor heart attacks, the forwards secured a solid scrum with the ball being cleared into touch by Carly Forrester.

With the final score being 15-12, it is worth noting that the three tries scored by the Nomads came from the back three, a massive positive in the trying conditions. The Nomads now look forward to their final game of the season, a playoff game against Oakville Crusaders for some silverware to put away for the winter.]]>