ABBEY Ladies’ development side battled back from a try down to secure a vital victory in against local rivals Rams Sirens, writes Fiona Tomas.

Lewis Jones’ side came away with a scrappy 15-7 win at Old Bath Road in Sonning to take the spoils in the Reading derby.

It was Sirens who started the game with greater determination and deservedly took the lead after 20 minutes after Abbey were penalised for a series of offside infringements.

But Emily Henderson – who drove tirelessly at Sirens’ defence all game – pulled one back for Abbey minutes after the break to even the scores.

In a game which largely centred around ferocious battles among the forwards, Jo Brind and Siobhan Kearns proved influential with their strong carries – even stealing a scrum at one point with prop Megan Turnell. The second half saw greater consolidation between fly-half Gabriella Millard and scrum-half and skipper Sarah Northover and greater attack from Abbey’s back line, while Nebo Meyiwa proved a threat from inside centre after a last-minute call-up.

Flanker SJ Garside also proved instrumental in gaining the Nuns continual territory going forward, as well as jumping to great success in Abbey’s well-implemented line-outs.

An increased work-rate from the Nuns saw Katherine Sheppard thump the ball down on the try line as Sirens’ tired.

And Northover dived over for her side’s vital third to guarantee an away win for the Emmer Green outfit with the last action of the game.