Cartha Queens Park head coach Ally Hunter says he is “super proud” of his side after they defeated Garioch on Saturday at Dumbreck to make sure they will be in the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership next term.
Going into the rearranged clash in the eight-team top flight, Cartha were on 15 points and seventh while Garioch were bottom on 12 points.
It meant that this second stage bottom four match had everything on the line, with everyone knowing that the team that finished seventh would go into the Sarah Beaney Cup in the new year and the eighth placed side would go into the Regional Play-off series with feeder league winners to battle it out for a 2026/27 top flight spot.
And, after a real tussle, Cartha won 27-22 with a bonus point to finish on 20 points with Garioch finishing on 14 points after picking up two bonus points which was scant consolation to them.
“I’m super proud of the performance from the squad,” Hunter said.
“It was a hell of a game of rugby and it was a great advertisement for the Women’s Premiership. Regardless of whereabouts in the standings the fixture stood, both teams brought everything they had to the table.
“Garioch were incredibly physical and, for us, it was about making sure we stayed calm and played the game in the right areas of the pitch.
“I’m incredibly proud of the platform that our forward pack provided here, but Garioch were battling too and they were 22-15 up going into the closing stages.
“We looked like we were in a wee bit of a bother, but the resolve of the squad was outstanding.
“The last 15-20 minutes of that game was probably some of the best rugby we have played this season in terms of our control and our structures and that got us the 27-22 win in the end.”
Hazel King led the way with two tries for Cartha while skipper Carolyn Baker-Hughes, Kirsty Brown and Kimmi Renicks also scored with Jennifer Treacy kicking one conversion.
Captain Jodie Dalgarno, Lesley Davis, Jade Scott and Ella Johnson scored the Garioch tries with Saba Alexander converting one of them.
Attention now turns to the Premiership final on December 13 between Stirling County and Watsonians.
Action from Cartha-Garioch is pictured – thanks to Ben Blair
From November 14 to December 14, GH Media will be featuring on all aspects of women’s rugby in Scotland including the exciting conclusion to the domestic Premiership, news on Scots playing down south and lots more during a busy month.