Birkenhead Park Panthers v Ruthin Ladies Rugby

As the Welsh side worked the journey out of their legs they began to assert themselves in all facets of the game. The Ruthin back row forwards took a vice-like grip over the breakdown and their tight five gave a textbook display of rucking technique. Under such a display of "shock and awe" tactics from Ruthin, the Panthers wobbled. However, all the strongest trees bend a little in the face of a real buffeting, and the Panthers did not topple. Clearly, the level of intensity at which the experienced opposition played shook the Panthers but, as is often the case with sport, a team learns far more about itself when faced with adversity than when it is dominant.

Collectively, the Panthers stood shoulder to shoulder and, following the lead of second rowers Cam Benfell and Sue Bird, battled to stay with Ruthin. The visitors did breach the home defence, however. Following an initial drive by their forwards their centre pairing combined well to put the magnificent outside centre on an arcing run that led to a try to the left of the posts. This initial score was improved by the accurate place kicker, as was Ruthin's second try that followed shortly after when the powerful Number 8 outflanked the Panthers on their left.

Under constant pressure, the Panthers held firm deep inside their own half with impressive tackles being put in by all the back line. The Panthers were unable to gain significant ground or possession, despite consistently long clearance kicks from outside half Paula Delmaine. These kicks were all the more impressive given that Delmaine took more of a battering than that suffered by 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of the Foot at Rorke's Drift. Indeed, every single member of the Panthers deserves a mention in despatches and there was no need for any relief column. They simply lengthened their perimeter and repelled wave after wave of attacks. The Welsh showed "a peculiar aversion to the bayonets" of the Panthers' frantic tackles.

Finally the visitors made all their possession and territory pay with a scrappy try on their left wing. The Panthers were unfortunate to concede this try as they had made tackle after tackle but then failed to drop on a loose ball near to their own line and suffered the inevitable consequence.

The half time whistle sounded and the Panthers found themselves 19-0 behind. As the team came together there was an unspoken understanding that all the members of the fledgling side now fully understood the vagaries of this magnificent sport. Sometimes rugby is "finger licking good" and other times it is more difficult. The Panthers dug deep into their collective selves and steeled themselves for the next 40 minutes. As the referee brought the teams to the 2nd half the iron determination of the whole Panthers' squad was there for all to see.

A response was needed, and the perfect response was served up. The Panthers, through grit, application and no small degree of skill, took the initiative from Ruthin. The Panthers steadily built momentum and worked their way deeper into the Welsh team's territory. All credit must be given to the Ruthin players who held firm and only allowed the Panthers two clear try scoring opportunities. The first came as a result of a bullocking run from left wing Kate Ibbotson who continued her fine form of recent weeks. Ibbotson, who moves quicker than an express train that is late for a very important appointment, broke free of five, maybe six tackles and bore down on the try line before unfortunately losing control of the pill just short of the 5 points. The second near miss came when scrum half Hannah Lewis was stopped just short of the line after supporting the impressive run of right winger Emily Dejon-Stewart.

Unfortunately, Dejon-Stewart damaged her left knee during this barnstorming run and the Panthers hope to see her back as soon as recovery permits.

As the game entered its final stanza the visitors regained control of the ball and began to exert late pressure on the Panthers. Despite being heavy legged due to the mental and physical effort already expended the Panthers continued to put their shoulders into each and every tackle. Tracey Hellon put her body on the line in bringing to ground the opposition flanker and scrum half Lewis risked all by abandoning the textbook to bring Ruthin's behemoth centre to ground. Those tackles in the last minutes summed up perfectly the wholehearted response the Panthers provided to the challenge of the technically better side.

A final try was shipped when the outside centre provided a carbon copy finish of her first half score and this was converted from near the touchline by the compact Ruthin fly half. At no side the Panthers were 26-0 adrift, a score line which was probably a fair reflection of where both sides are at.

The Panthers might have been bested on the day, but there is no disgrace in losing to such a proficient side as Ruthin. The Panthers found their backs well and truly against the wall and they came out the only way this team knows how. By fighting. Together. To the bitter end.

Ever upwards and onwards, roll on the next match!