Essex U15's @ Slough 2nd Dec 07

On sunday, our U15's braved the weather to play a tri match against Berkshire and Middlesex.

Having already played both teams this season which resulted in wins for the Essex girls, they went into both games full of confidence despite missing 4 players through injury.

The first game against a middlesex side that had a back line full of pace started just as we wanted, the ball was kept tight in the forwards and their sheer power and technical ability soon showed. The Essex girls were dominant at the scrum and quickest to each breakdown and with the forwards continually pushing towards the middlesex line, it drew the middlesex players into some desperate defending, which opened up a gap in the defence for Alex to crash through to score 5-0.

The backs full of confidence were given quick ball of the back of the scrum and some superb handling saw the ball spread across to the wing where Jess Wilkins had overlapped to recieve the ball and run through to score the second try 10-0
Maddy duly put her conversion away 12-0.

Meg, lucie, Ellie and Alex in the forwards continually put hard tackles in on the middlesex players and kept the middlesex backs quiet for the whole game.

At the turn aroud, the sheer dominance of the Essex girls reduced middlesex to having to kick the ball upfield to try and get out of their own half as the Essex girls kept them pinned in their own 22 for the whole of the second half.

Alex and lucy combined to attack the Middlesex line and only some desperate defending stopped them crashing over, but a quick ball from the back of the ruck saw the backs spin the ball across the park where Abbie and Anna were waiting to run at the line. As they here held up on the line, Meg and Lucy crashed over to clear the defenders to allow Ellie to pick up and dive over for a try 17-o.

The ref blew up shortly after to end what was a terrific display or rugby from our youngsters.


In the 2nd Game the girls played against Berks, and with the weather turning colder and wetter the girls used their advantage in the pack to pressure the Berks defence which opened up gaps allowing the girls to run in 6 tries with Maddy converting 3.
Tries Jessica (3), Alex (2), Ellie
Cons Maddy (3)

Well done to all girls, and lets hope Abbies shoulder heals quickly.