Our Senior Women’s team have a bye today so instead of live action you can re-live last week’s game through Lisa’s vivid game report - thanks Lisa!
This past Saturday the JBAA Sr. Women took the field to play against another relatively young and fit Langley team. Some members of the opposition were known to coach Jen Ross from her former coaching roles in the Fraser Valley, and she anticipated that this game would be a challenge for our Bays to rise to.
JBAA came out hard from the opening kick-off with Saffron Brooks and Katie Mckinty both leading with strong charges into the Langley end. Both teams certainly showed up to play, the pace was quick and the teams evenly matched. Despite 2 early knock-ons by the Bays, they managed to rebound from early mistakes to display impressive handling. Raelee Mulholland made a long run but was stopped just shy of the Langley 22m and the play for the remainder of the quarter was mostly a back-and-forth contest at the half. JBAA pressured hard in the last minute with threatening runs by Hailey Clarot and Sarina Brooks, the latter of whom found space on the blind and a worn-down defence to make her way through to score the first points of the game. Kylie Good kicks the convert JBAA 7–0 Langley.
The second quarter saw the momentum shift to Langley not long after the restart. A Langley line-out and a few quick phases left a player with speed out wide. Bays players out of position for the required tackle and Langley dots down just outside the posts for an unconverted try. JBAA 7–5 Langley.
JBAA seemed to let their defensive guard down off the kickoff and Langley very quickly found space again. Despite a try saving tackle by Kylie Good, Langley outnumbers the Bays at the line to score again. No kick. JBAA 7–10 Langley.
The Bays were not giving up. Sarina Brooks got the team moving into Langley’s end again with her ball poaching skills and strong runs around and through defenders. Sarina passed wide to Hailey Clarot who ran the distance with new Bay, Sophia Erece, running in support. Hailey scores and Kylie’s kick is good JBAA 14–10 Langley.
The Bays continue to feed off the energy of the previous tally, and Raelee Mulholland’s run is not thwarted this go as she finds space to score. Kylie Good slots the convert JBAA 21–10 Langley.
Before the end of the half, JBAA are awarded a scrum ahead of their 22m but Langley ends up with the ball and the Bays backline are called offside. Langley use the penalty to their advantage with good, quick hands and score an unconverted try in the corner to end this seemingly long (due to injury time) quarter. JBAA 21-15 Langley.
The 3rd quarter started with JBAA pressuring into Langley’s half, but not long after, the ball made its way into the hands of a Langley player who would prove to be hard to tackle (and questionably talented for this Div 2 rugby league), she ran half the field to score under the posts and the kick is good. JBAA 21-22 Langley.
The Bays again turn the tide of momentum with great handling and great runs from Sarah Walker and Sarina Brooks to bring the Bays to the Langley 5m. Saffron Brooks seizes the ball and opportunity to show how powerful she can be and charges hard through the defence to score this sideline spectator’s try of the day! JBAA 26-22 Langley.
The remainder of the 3rd quarter belonged to Langley as the Bays struggled defensively with poor positioning in tackles. Despite a strong defensive effort by Kylie Good the Bays struggled to overcome, or get under, the fending arms of Langley who scored 3 more tries, 2 converted, before the end of the quarter. JBAA 24-41 Langley.
The last quarter was an exciting 15 mins of rugby and proved that our young JBAA women were up to the challenge on the day. The first 2 mins saw back and forth play at mid-field with notably impressive tackles and carries by newcomer Sophia Erece. The ball made its way to the Bays 5m and a clearing kick is blocked, Langley capitalizes and scores another unconverted try. JBAA 26-46 Langley.
As at the start of the game, Katie Mckinty and Saffron Brooks, still hungry to score, push the Bays forward, freeing up Sarina Brooks to touch down in the corner, too far for our kicker to convert. JBAA 31-46 Langley.
The Bays gain possession off the restart and Sarina Brooks with ball in hand dummies through 2 defenders to make her way past the half and passes to Hailey Clarot who runs the distance to score an unconverted try. JBAA 36-46 Langley.
The last few minutes of the game are not reflected in the final score as JBAA had several individual and team efforts that could have brought us within reach, but the Bays were unable to add any more. The last phases of the game began with a Langley lineout on their 22m and impressive handling through their backline to half. Despite a Herculean tackle attempt by Kylie Good, that tough to tackle Langley player goose-stepped her way through our last line of defence to score the visitor’s last converted try.
Final score JBAA 36-53 Langley.
