WXV Global Series fallow week: Garioch edge out Cartha in a cracking Premiership clash

Gary Heatly

Garioch captain Sammy Ross says she is “extremely proud” of her team after they edged out Cartha Queens Park away at Dumbreck to get their first win of the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership season.

But, despite the 35-24 bonus point win which now has the Inverurie outfit up to sixth in the eight-team league, she and head coach Dave Duguid still believe the team can play better and that there is more to come from them going forward.

The Kellands Park side made sure they headed back home with a victory from Glasgow on Saturday with their tries in the success coming from Laura Keay, Nikki Chalk, Charlotte Burrows and Saba Alexander (2). Alexander also kicked five conversions.

“It was a very close fought match with both teams going at it and answering back quickly to each other after scores,” skipper Ross said.

“We put in a good display, but we still believe we have more to give than that.

“Cartha were fierce and got some well-deserved bonus points from the game and now both squads will build and look to see what we can do against the other teams in the league.

“I was extremely proud of the team and our game management at the weekend.”

Duguid added:  “I was really pleased to get the win despite not playing at our best, but we were clinical when it mattered.

“It is always a ‘ding dong’ battle with Cartha, we knew they would keep coming back at us and they certainly did so a win on the road was very pleasing.”

Cartha are still winless, but picked up two bonus points here, their tries coming from Hazel King (2), Erin Gilmour, Kimmy Rennicks, Lucy Symon and Rebecca Moffat with Kirsty Venter converting two of them.

They are sitting seventh in the standings and their head coach Ally Hunter said:  “We were disappointed to lose at the end, we gave ourselves every opportunity to win that game and we created enough chances to do so.

“We picked up two bonus points, that’s crucial and we will not dwell on losing this game. There were a lot of good things from us in the game and there is a lot of rugby to be played.”

The rest of the round four Premiership games take place this coming Saturday and the fixtures are here.

The Garioch squad that won away at Cartha are pictured

It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk