WELLINGTON Vixens ended their season at the Athletic Ground with a splendid 29-10 success over second-placed Withycombe Ladies, with the home side starting the game fourth in the table, writes Hugh Barrett.

Although the pitch resembled concrete, the players kicked off under glorious sunshine for what was always going to be a pulsating game.

Withycombe won the toss and elected to play up the slope; from the whistle both teams showed attacking prowess and stalwart defence.

It was on 25 minutes when a Vixens attack just inside their half, saw a long pass intercepted by the Withycombe fly half who raced in wide of the posts. The conversion was missed.

The Vixens, undaunted, stuck to their game plan and mounted numerous attacking plays, one seeing the ball worked out to full back Courtney Sellick who broke two tackles to race in and score just wide of the posts. India Davey successfully kicked the extras.

Just minutes before half time,Withycombe were awarded a penalty just 15 metres from the Vixens line. Some great defence by the Vixens saw numerous Withycombe phases of play halted before their second row found a gap to dive in for a second try which was not converted.

The whistle blew for the end of the first half, the score standing at Vixens 7, Withycombe 10.

As the sun was setting the second half commenced, seeing a re-energised Vixens mount wave after wave of attacks; after some fine pick and go by the forwards before scrum half Grace Tubb drove over for Wellington’s second try. The extras were missed.

Withycombe applied their own pressure but strong and brutal defence by the Vixens thwarted Withycombe scoring.

The Vixens took every oppportunity to break out of defence with forwards and backs making strong hard runs, with great support play and speed at the ruck saw the ball worked wide to inside centre India Davey. She then broke a number of tackles to dive over under the posts. She converted her own try.

From the restart Withycombe found it hard to progress with the tenasic defence halting them at every juncture.

This pressure told and the Vixens slick attacking play saw flanker Lucy McCabe drive over for her first try for the Vixens. The extras were missed.

With five minutes to go the Vixens tails were up, and with the play breaking up the Vixens forwards were causing havoc.

Vixens’ powerhouse prop Kelly Denning, who had been making driving runs all game, received the ball 10 meters from the Withycombe try line.

She drove hard at pace with Withycombe players hanging off her to pop a pass to winger Ellodie Anejjie to dive in to score. The extras were missed.

The final whistle went seeing the score stand at Vixens 29, Withycombe 10.

The Wellington coaches commented that the Vixens saved the best until the last game of the season. They really wanted the win and had been working hard in training to this end. They put it all into practice, and to beat such a strong side as Withycombe is testament to how well the squad has bonded and performed. To finish the season third place in the league for this squad is an impressive achievement.

Player of the match was wing forward Kayleigh Wilson.