Match Report: Wigtownshire Ladies 10 - 12 Ayr Ladies

On a stormy Sunday at London Road Playing Fields, Wigtownshire Ladies, sitting comfortably in second place, faced off against Ayr Ladies, who were rooted at the bottom of the table. Although the form book suggested an easy win for Shire, the relentless rain and wind made for difficult conditions, leading to a scrappy, error-laden contest.

Ayr defied expectations early on, taking advantage of the tough weather to disrupt Shire’s rhythm and get on the scoreboard first. Their persistence paid off as they took a solid 12-0 lead, holding firm through the first half. Shire struggled to break through, finding themselves down by two tries as they headed into halftime.

Determined to turn the tide, Shire came out firing in the second half, showing improved control and resilience. Their efforts were rewarded when Tamsin Gilston powered through to score in the corner, narrowing the gap to 12-5. The momentum seemed to shift, and Shire continued to press forward with increased intensity.

Niamh Wilson then crossed the line for Shire’s second try, edging them closer to Ayr with a score of 12-10. However, despite relentless pressure and several drives toward the line, Ayr’s defense held strong, and Shire’s campaign was hindered by handling errors exacerbated by the worsening weather. Ultimately, Ayr managed to cling to their two-point lead, sealing an unexpected 12-10 victory.

There were positives for Shire to take from the performance. Their defense was once again a highlight, with Elouise Moulton putting in an outstanding display, earning her the title of opposition’s player of the match. Shire’s own player of the match went to Shonagh Milven, who made an impressive debut as prop, delivering a stellar all-around performance and showing resilience in defense.

Despite the narrow loss, Shire retained their second-place standing in the league with a bonus point. Next up, they travel to Greenock, where they’ll be looking to bounce back in what promises to be a fiery encounter.