Twenty two girls turned out for Crieff and Strathearn when it fielded its first ever female XV on Sunday.  Based mainly on the girls playing at Crieff High but also including girls from Morrison’s and even one  from Perth, the girls aged 12 – 17 took the field at Braidhaugh against their counterparts from Cowal RFC from Dunoon.

In a game played over three 20 minute sessions the Crieff girls played some fantastic rugby to run out 80-22 winners.  The first period was a little slow off the mark but as the girls worked the nerves out of their system they soon came on to a game with stand off Rachel Wood running in the first try from the halfway line.  This was just the opening of the floodgates and a bucket full of tries followed.  Full Back Emily Bond led the way with three, including one run in from under her own posts. Peigi Rodan, a relation of ex-Irish captain Keith Wood, also managed a hat trick from the wing, Caitlin Buchan had a brace, Ruby McKinnel, burst through the forwards to score a great try under the posts, Captain, Charli Brzeski also claimed one and Clare Christie rounded off the scoring with one in the final minutes. 

Wood’s kicking was exceptional slotting ten of her twelve conversion attempts.  The game had become so one sided that after the second twenty minute session the Crieff forwards swapped with the Cowal girls to try even up the teams a bit, this worked, with all Cowal’s 22 points coming during this session, including a try for Buchan, her third in the game but this time against her team mates!  The girls will need to work a little on their forward skills and play at the breakdown but this was great start to the season for the girls and a first for Crieff and Strathearn RFC

If any girls aged 12 -17 (S1-S6) are interested in playing rugby then come along to Braidhaugh between 1pm – 3pm Sunday’s or email coach Chris Warburton at  chris2757@tiscali.co.uk