The Devil’s opening game of the tournament did not allow for ideal conditions. Playing late on a Friday evening after a battle with rush hour traffic, and with several new players making their debut for the team, focus was rather lacking in the opening minutes and the Devils were punished by an early try, as ISB’s pacey wing took the ball down the blind side following a poor Devils ruck. She sprinted in for a twenty metre try to open up a 7-0 lead.
The try served to wake the Devils up a little and their defensive play improved to allow to steadily gain territorial advantage, although passing was still decidedly shaky and the rucks were dominated by the lighter but better organised ISB forwards. However, on the stroke of half time Devils pressure in the last third won them a penalty which Karoliina Lehtonnen quickly tapped and ran into contact. A lovely pop off allowed Jeannie Ivanov to beat one player and bring the scores level, thanks to a cool conversion by Marissa Cox.
However, in the second half the better organisation and superior pace of the younger ISB side began to show and they stole two quick tries, both conceded after poor Devils discipline in the ruck gave away a succession of penalties, which put the game beyond doubt. The Devils made some determined runs deep into ISB territory towards the final whistle but a lack of support runners meant that the couldn’t close the deficit.