WOMEN'S RUGBY: Ipswich Scorpions 0 Hove 11THE encroaching gloom of evening helped put the tryline out of sight for a rusty Ipswich women's rugby side at Humber Doucy Lane, leaving them scoreless for their second home match of the season.

Ipswich Scorpions 0 Hove 11

THE encroaching gloom of evening helped put the tryline out of sight for a rusty Ipswich women's rugby side at Humber Doucy Lane, leaving them scoreless for their second home match of the season.

A powerful scrummage was not enough against the Brighton visitors and the back line were unable to convert territorial advantage in the second half into points.

Ipswich's lineouts were annihilated by the visitors as Hove hoisted up their left winger to deny Paula Donelly-Downs on many occasions.

Hove scored a try in the corner and two penalty kicks in the first half and Ipswich had several chances in the backs which were thwarted by efficient defending. Scrum half Sarah Price supplied the backline well and pressured her opposite, who shone for Hove.

Julia Long was nippy from fullback and looks capable of beating her opposite at will but both her and regular finisher Louise Brown were unable to break through, to Hove's credit.

On the back foot at half time, the Scorpions spent the vast majority of the next 40 minutes hammering away in a futile attempt to wrest the game back. Inspired launches down the blindside finally saw the forwards charge over the line, only for a five metre scrum to be awarded as Hove prevented the touchdown. Desperate passing in the backs and possession turnover in the forwards let Hove off the hook and the disappearing light soon put victory out of reach.

The Scorpions dominated many phases of the match but captain Suzanne Norton, who was effective as ever at inside centre, will be worried about the failure to turn strong field positions into vital points. With Emma Arthurs, previously the team's consistent kicker and a valuable asset to the squad, currently unavailable along with former fly half Sarah-Jane Smith, coaches Brian Caley and Mike Edmonds will be addressing the bootsmith situation this week.

The team have now won two games and lost three, but this match was one that Ipswich could easily have choked a tight victory out of, if they had managed to apply a little grease to the tracks and slip into overdrive.

This Sunday Ipswich host Chesham at Humber Doucy Lane and hope to build on their 17-5 away win earlier in the season. The game kicks off at 2pm.