Vodafone Scotland WXV Series Australia week: Garioch heading to Glasgow in determined mood

Gary Heatly

Garioch will travel to Glasgow on Saturday determined to show people what they are capable of in the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership.

The Inverurie outfit will be taking on Cartha Queens Park at Dumbreck (2pm) and, with both sides having lost three from three so far in the top flight this season, something is going to have to give.

With the bottom side going down after stages one and two of the campaign combined the result here between two closely matched teams may prove crucial in the long-term.

Garioch captain Sammy Ross said:  “We have not got off to the start to the season that we would have ideally wanted.

“Despite knowing we were up against some big odds against Watsonians, Hillhead Jordanhill and Stirling County and losing those games, I know exactly what this squad is capable of.

“I feel we are just a few tweaks short of being able to put a performance out there for a full 80 minutes.

“The first half in the Stirling game last weekend when we were just 26-19 down at the interval showed exactly what we are capable.

“It was an incredible feeling being on the pitch and seeing it all click together and we scored tries in quick succession which really gave a big buzz.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough in the tank to carry that on for 80 minutes and Stirling were a well-drilled squad who got away from us in the second half as we were hit by injuries and they emptied their stacked bench.

“The most pleasing thing so far this term has been the buy in we have had from the squad.

“Everything we ask of them they rise to. We are quite a different squad to the one who first entered the Premiership a few years ago with and a lot of newer and younger faces in there.

“But watching our newer players, especially those coming up from the club’s under-18s, do so well on the pitch is such a testament to the club and coaches who have built great foundations at Kellands Park.

“For example, when Iona MacLeod made her senior debut aged 17 against Watsonians a few weeks ago, the energy and tenacity she brought to the party was very inspiring.

“Watching these types of players come through and do that on the pitch is very special.”

As mentioned, the Cartha away game is set to be a hard fought affair and Ross added:  “Cartha away is always going to be a tough one and probably the hardest of the season in a way because we are well-matched and both squads absolutely go at it for the full 80 minutes.

“The funny thing is that we don’t have to prove to each other that we both deserve to be in the Premiership, it’s the rest of the league and Scottish Rugby that we are both trying to prove it to.

“Both teams have their disadvantages that they are up against and for all the players involved to continue to get on the pitch and give it their all is amazing.

“To really compete in the game we are going to have to work on a full 80-minute performance and really nail down the structure we are trying to play to and not lose composure or take our foot off the gas.

“The best is yet to come for us this season and I’m really excited to see how things play out going forward, but first of all everything is focused on this match.”

It is the only Premiership game on this weekend.

Sammy Ross is 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