Nomads defeat Scotland

The Nomads showed their threat right from the kick off as Jane Leonard immediately found a gap in the defence to charge 30m up the pitch. Scotland however, showed they are a team to contend with; showing well in the scrum and the backs linking up well in the wide channels with Gillian Ingles dancing around a few defenders when she had ball in hand.

The only score of the first period came through a quickly tapped penalty, a feature of the Nomad’s quick style of play throughout the game, which was fed to Australia and Wasps player Dal Dennison to score. Tess Gard’ner  slotted the conversion to put the Nomads 0-7 up.

Scotland responded with a midfield break by Laura Steven, but full back Gard’ner covered with a try saving tackle. Gard’ner was impressive throughout not only in defence but also in counter attack, whether slicing through defence or putting in clever kicks.

The Nomads tightened up their game in the second period, stabilising the scrum and playing a well-structured game, looking like a squad who had been together longer than a few hours.

A second try came through former Scotland player Louise Dalgliesh, playing at scrum half she often disrupted and put pressure on the Scotland breakdown throughout the game. Gard’ner converted again to put the Nomads 0-14 ahead.

With a few injuries to Scottish players and a number of strong players coming off the bench, the Nomads seemed to find their stride. Breaks by Emilia Kristianson and Gemma Rowland put USA 7s and 15s player Emilie Bydwell in space to score on her Nomads debut and Worcester’s Lisa Campbell powered over under the posts to put the score at 0-24.

Youngster Meggan Goddard impressed with a booming up and under which Bydwell regathered and fed to Gemma Rowland who showed a clean pair of heels around the Scottish cover defence to score, 0-31.

In a long second period the Nomads showed true spirit of the team by putting their bodies on the line, resulting in a number of players being taken off for blood. The match doctor may have missed the post-match food by the time he had finished stitching up the various head injuries including a cauliflower ear inflicted by a team-mate!

Towards the end of the second period of play Scotland really demonstrated that they will stay in a game and have the ability to fight back. No 8 Jade Konkel looked strong making ground off the scrum and they used the rolling maul to good effect. The home team scored through Lisa Robertson and a neat run in by scrum half Mhaira Grieve on the blind after her forwards turned over the scrum. With neither try converted the score stood at 10-31.

The Nomads continued to make use of rolling substitutions (to the appreciation of some of the older players) to keep fresh legs coming onto the pitch, scoring a further two tries through Dal Dennison and Vicki Jackson to bring the final score to 10-43.

Nomads Squad

Claire Purdy** ENG,  Sophie Hemming** ENG,  Fiona Coughlan** IRE,  Pippa Crews,  Sarah Mimnagh,  Linsey Wheeler* SCOT,  Emilia Kristianson* SWD,  Claire Phelps,  Jane Leonard*, Catherine Spencer* ENG,  Dalena Dennison ** AUS,  Charlie Veale * SCOT,  Tina Lee* ENG,  Ruth Nash,  Louise Dalgleish* SCOT,  Meggan Goddard,  Lynne Cantwell** IRE,  Emilie Bydwell** USA,  Lisa Campbell * NZ (Rugby League),  Vicki Jackson* ENG,  Jade Wong,  Sarah Mills* ENG,  Tess Gard'ner,  Claire Davies,  Gemma Rowland.  Coaches: Leslie Cripps* CAN and Suzie Brown* SCOT,  Manager Fiona Stockley,  Physio Joanna McGilchrist** ENG. Included 2014 World Cup 6 in total ** and full internationals * total of 765 caps