THE Langholm Girls U15 rugby team travelled to Stewartry last Sunday to compete in the Girls sevens tournament and were worthy winners.
The tournament was played under the new Bill McLaren Positive Coaching Scotland scoring system which awards points, for each game played, that are added together to give a final score. Points are given for the result, fair play, sportsmanship, attitude to referees and officials and for the coaches and management.
Langholm opened against the hosts and stormed to a 35-0 win with tries from Lisa Thomson (4), Caitlin Cottrell, Shonagh Murray and Nicole Beattie. There were no conversions at the tournament.
Next up was Dumfries and this was to be more of the same, with a solid forward display providing good possession for the strong running backs, who ran in seven tries. Emily Beattie and Cottrell added to the five from Thomson who was running with great determination. Rachael Young, having a very good day at hooker, proved the forwards could also run well, and romped in from half way for a lovely solo effort to make it 40-0.
They played Biggar next and this was a really good team performance against formidable opponents. The girls put together some good passing play to work into scoring positions. Four tries, all from Thomson, brought a 20-0 win.
The final match of the day was against Cockermouth and Langholm cut loose to run in nine tries for a 45-0 victory. Tries came from Cottrell (4), Thomson (2), Beattie, Lauren Meager and Adele Wyllie.
The girls finished undefeated on the day with a total of 28 tries for, and none against. At the medal presentations it was announced that as well as being the only unbeaten side they had also registered full marks on the PCS scoring system which is a real credit and a reflection of the way they play and approach their rugby, and a great example to the other teams in the youth section.
The girls travel to Keswick sevens next week before then going to the IRB Glasgow Sevens Festival of Rugby.
Team: Shonagh Murray, Rachael Young, Lauren Meager, Caitlin Cottrell, Lisa Thomson, Emily Beattie and Nicole Beattie. Replacement Adele Wyllie was used in all four games.