WELLINGTON Vixens gained a 27-17 rugby victory over Chard in their first-ever NC3 home match before a good crowd

Vixens won the toss and decided to play up the slope. From the kick off the Vixens looked to work the ball wide at every opportunity and use the pace of the back line. After a sustained period of pressure from some great linked play the backs were let loose with Lisa Jenkins charging forward feeding the ball out to Courtney Sellick who tore off to unload to Maxim Pontin who weaved her way to the try line for the opening score. The extras were missed.

From the re start Vixens, through some fine driving forward play, released Libby Rowlands loose who broke the defensive line and passed to Courtney Sellick who fed Maxim Pontin entering the line at speed from full back and from another mazey run touched down wide out for Wellington’s second score. Lara Grabham-White added the extras.

From a sustained period of pressure Chard mounted a number of forward drives in the Wellington twenty-two before they were awarded a penalty for the Vixens creeping offside. From the next phase of play Chard drove over to score wide out. The extras were missed

The game then became an arm wrestle as Chard’s large forward pack hammered away five metres out from the Vixens try line. The Vixens then produced one of the best series of defensive plays seeing them repel a number of Chard drives just a metre from the try line, eventually the Vixens turning the ball over and allowing them to counter which saw Pontin race up the field turning the Chard defence inside out to score wide out. The extras were missed. Vixens led 17-5 at half time.

After some sustained pressure on the Chard try line Jodie Curtis-Clift charged over for the Vixens’ fourth try. The extras were missed.

Chard then countered with a long kick over the Vixens defence seeing their full back race onto the ball and score under the posts. The extras were added.

Chard scored again from a quickly taken penalty with the extras being missed.

Wellington then went on the attack and trapped chard in there twenty-two for a sustained period of time before the pressure eventually told and captain Taylor Wetherall drove over for the final score. The extras were missed.

The Wellington coaches commented: “We have been working on our defensive game and how to turn that into attack. Today that came together and the Vixens put on a fine display of rugby to seal an impressive league win.”

Player of the match was Maxim Pontin. Vixens’ next league outing is next Sunday, 10th November, at home to Trowbridge Ladies. KO 2.30pm.

Hugh Barrett.