Newcastle Vikings’ ladies returned to Scottish league action on Saturday with a hard match against unbeaten league leaders Edinburgh at the Oriam Sports Performance Centre.
The Vikings struggled to find their way through Edinburgh’s solid defence line and hold back their pacy attacking plays during the first half, which ended 5-17. Centre Marlen Slinning Goulty hit a hat-trick to add to Alexandra Inta’s opening penalty, with captain Sandra Christke-Lamb striking from the line position.
Newcastle then fought back with a much better performance in a closer second half. Winger Andrea King struck on a fast-break, debutant Flis Lawrence and Marie Brevet each broke through from the right-half position, while Goulty and Inta also scored from the back court as the Vikings kept pace with Edinburgh for the first part of the half, and firmed up their defence with Sophie O’Sullivan making some good saves too. King fired in another from the left-wing, player-of-the-match Goulty took her goals tally to six, and Lawrence netted her penalty rebound.
While Edinburgh came away with a 15-32 win, the Newcastle girls were nevertheless pleased with the way they never gave up, despite the lack of any substitutes available, and fought back with a superb 10-15 effort in second-half.
Head coach Goutly’s third goal of the match took her to 200 league and cup goals for the Vikings, joining Christke-Lamb as only the second Newcastle player to pass that milestone. Congratulations Marlen!
Newcastle Vikings: Sophie O’Sullivan (GK), Marie Brevet (1 goal), Marlen Slinning Goulty (6), Felicity Lawrence (2), Andrea King (2), Alexandra Inta (3), Sandra Christke-Lamb (1).