Final heartache for Howe who slip to defeat at Murrayfield

Glasgow University.............15

Howe Harlequins missed out on the BT Women’s Bowl, with Glasgow University snatching a 15-0 win at Murrayfield.

The ‘Quins have exceeded simply by getting to the final in their first season, but the university team’s confidence and experience, as well as injuries on the Harlequin’s side, meant they dominated in the first half.

Six minutes in, before the Harlequins minds were fully in the match, Glasgow’s second row Hannah Hotchin smashed her way through the ‘Quins and across the whitewash.

An injury at this stage to vice-captain on the day, Mandy Palmer-norrie who was removed from the field with a suspected concussion. Meant a reshuffle in the pack.

The students continued to have a strong attacking line and gained yards, exploiting any mistakes in defence from the Howe, before Phaedra Snailham’s pace got her over the line.

Now 10-0 down, the ‘Quins seemed fully focussed in attack for the first time, pushing the Glasgow defence back. When the University’s open-side flanker was sin binned, the Howe ladies managed to cross the line. However, the students’ defence did not allow the Fife girls to get the ball down.

The final phases of the first half seemed to be the Harlequins’. They had the ball in Glasgow’s 22m line for an extended period but could not penetrate the Glasgow University defence which thwarted every attempt.

Possession turned over and the Glasgow attack dominated allowing Snailham space to use her speed and power her over the line.

The second half showed a game where the teams were much more evenly matched.

Prop Emma Wood twice had the Harlequins over the whitewash, but Glasgow’s defence showed its superiority in holding up the ball over the line.

Howe Harlequins: Buist, Davies, Howat, Coombes, Nicoll, Williams (C), Watson, Wood, Strachan, Saunders, Aldrich, Nicol, Draper, Gibson, Palmer-norrie.

Substitutes: Goley, Wilson, Macgregor, Houldsworth, Cole, Turner, Harrow.