Report: Weymouth and Portland Rugby 36-17 Eastleigh Pirates

Eastleigh 17

Weymouth and Portland Ladies’ Rugby team have stormed to their first victory of the season, having secured a decisive 36-17 win over Eastleigh Pirates, writes Chris Davis.

Remembrance Sunday saw the league clash at their home ground on Monmouth Avenue, setting the scene for first time each side had faced each other.

Weymouth started the game with a kick off to Eastleigh, and within seconds Kirsty van Deurs Goss secured a penalty to Weymouth for holding on. Weymouth were on the hunt for a try earlier on but unfortunately denied for double movement.

This made Weymouth more determined and their first try came 15 minutes in with Faye Tatchell dotting the ball over the line. Jess Butcher lengthened the lead with a conversion between the posts to the delight of Weymouth’s gathered supporters. Eastleigh then scored in return, racing out from a scrum to try and narrow the gap, but a failed conversion attempt kept Weymouth ahead.

Butcher secured another try, having won the ball back with a turn over. Eastleigh put pressure on from the kick off resulting in their lineout, but Ciara Stone stole the ball allowing Weymouth to yet again be on the attack for another try.

Five meters from the try line Weymouth were awarded a penalty which allowed captain Emma Davis to score Weymouth’s third try of the game. The second half started with Eastleigh breaking through Weymouth’s defence and scoring their second try within the opening minutes of the half.

Jess Butcher with the ball with Kirtsy Van Deurs Goss in Support (Image: Chris Davis) Unhappy with the thought of losing their lead, Weymouth returned the challenge with a huge scrum, seeing a penalty awarded to them. The forward pack secured a big surge forward, which saw the ball pushed into the hands of winger Gail Quilter who was awarded a penalty try for a high tackle.

Eastleigh were determined to not let the game slip away and applied pressure to Weymouth from the resulting kick off. This resulted in a scrum in Weymouth’s half and a brilliant pick and go from Eastleigh’s captain Leigh-Ann Harris who managed to break defence and score. She then added another two points on for her side by converting her own try.

Weymouth were still hungry for more, and their fifth try came yet again from Tatchell after a dominant scrum. Butcher once again managed to slip the ball between the posts to make her second conversion of the game. Weymouth managed to score one more with Davis making a turn over and offloading to Butcher who ran 20 meters to score her second try of the game. 

Weymouth will look forward to playing Eastleigh again in February and continue to build from the win towards their next game away at Poole in two weeks.

Weymouth currently sit fifth in the table.