Along with the U18's, the girls travelled the short distance around the M25 to Crawley RFC.
The U15's took part in a double header against Crawley/East Grinstead and then London Irish.
First game saw the Basford girls up against Crawley and East Grinstead. Although the end result of 49-0 to Basford looks like a one sided game, the girls from Crawley put up a terrific fight and caused the Basford defence some hairy moments.
Some excellent play by the forwards enabled the backs to find spaces in the Crawley line to go over for their tries.
Try scorers on the day Mouse, Alex, Ellie, Megan Frances, Lucie and Maddy (apologies if I have missed you off)
The 2nd game against London Irish followed after a short 10 min break.
The girls from London Irish were predominantly the same girls who last season represented Cranberleigh.
The clubs met twice last year in the Herts 7's final and the National 7's final and on both occassions the Cranberleigh girls edged it.
Sundays game was no different from the first two encounters with both sides testing each other from the start.
Some excellent play from the Basford forwards kept Irish pinned in their own half for most of the 1st half with the Basford backs continually running at the Irish try line only to be thwarted by Super Alex in the Irish defence..
Just before half time, a speculative punt up field from the Irish found the Basford girls defending on their 5m line.
A misplaced clearance gave Irish a run at the line and they went over to open the scoring following up with the conversion..
Basford kept up the pressure and were rewarded with an excellent try of their own to go in 7-5 down at the break.
The second half carried on in the same vein, with Basford giving no quarter and harrasing the Irish forwards.
As the game edged to its conclusion another long punt upfield from Irish put the ball into the final 5m and it was the fresher legs of the Irish winger who narrowly beat the Basford defence to the ball to kick it over the line and drop on it for the try.
The final score of 12-5 mirrored the National 7's result, but Basford can count themselves extremely unlucky to not have walked away with their 1st win over the Girls at London Irish.
A well rounded performance on the day has shown that there is plenty to come from the girls this season, starting with the defence of their Rochford 7's title in a couple of weeks.
Thanks to all at Crawley rugby club for your hospitality and to both teams for a terric days rugby.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Blog Header
Something about the Basford* blog (see below) has been bothering me... and its the header.
"Play with the spirit of the game. Enjoy, make lasting friendships, but above all win!!!"
There is a degree of tongue-in-cheekness about this, obviously, but even so it has had me thinking... "but above all win"... is winning really the most important thing?
The above extract has been lifted from the excellent Letchworth blog.
As John says, is winning the most important thing.
Enjoyment and making lasting friendships is a vital part of the whole rugby scene, to be admired by your peers for your achievements and the way in which you conduct yourselves is sufficient reward in itself.
However how many people remember the runners up in competitions.
So is winning the be all and end all, is it more important to participate than to win.
I suppose each person has their own views on the subject.
Its your blog so have your say,
a) is winning more important than just taking part.
b) does the header give a misleading impression of how we participate in the sport.
Before you rush into print however please read Johns article on the Letchworth Blog and digest exactly what he is saying.
It is not a critisism just a question.
It is easy to pass this off as sour grapes following the Basford Victory last week, however John has raised a valid point and it is worthwhile looking at how people percieve participation in the game.
Over to you.
"Play with the spirit of the game. Enjoy, make lasting friendships, but above all win!!!"
There is a degree of tongue-in-cheekness about this, obviously, but even so it has had me thinking... "but above all win"... is winning really the most important thing?
The above extract has been lifted from the excellent Letchworth blog.
As John says, is winning the most important thing.
Enjoyment and making lasting friendships is a vital part of the whole rugby scene, to be admired by your peers for your achievements and the way in which you conduct yourselves is sufficient reward in itself.
However how many people remember the runners up in competitions.
So is winning the be all and end all, is it more important to participate than to win.
I suppose each person has their own views on the subject.
Its your blog so have your say,
a) is winning more important than just taking part.
b) does the header give a misleading impression of how we participate in the sport.
Before you rush into print however please read Johns article on the Letchworth Blog and digest exactly what he is saying.
It is not a critisism just a question.
It is easy to pass this off as sour grapes following the Basford Victory last week, however John has raised a valid point and it is worthwhile looking at how people percieve participation in the game.
Over to you.
Basford v Crawley
Basford Girls U18
Vs.
Combined Crawley / East Grinstead Girls U18
Sunday 23rd September 2007
Match report courtesy of Phil French
Another girls rugby match, another sunny day! Even Mr. Carmen turned up! (only to show off his new car though!)
The game was played with 14 a side - both teams blooding some new players – and very well they all did.
Crawley kicked off and with a sign of things to come, the Basford girls pressured the home side right from the start - forcing a scrum 5m out on their first attack. The Crawley girls tried to defend, but Basford’s pressure forced another scrum 5m from the line. The scoring was opened when a Crawley player mishandled the ball and Scottie picked up and dived over the line 0 – 5.
From the restart, Crawley brought the ball in to Basford’s half and forced a line out 5m from the Basford line. The line out went Basfords way and they worked the ball from the danger area with Sarah McB making a great run to over the half way line. The ball was popped to Scottie who completed the length of the pitch for her second score 0 – 10.
Basford kept the pressure on with most of the play taking place within Crawley’s half. Crawley cleared to touch and from the resulting line out, the ball was passed across the backs for Sarah McB to touch down 0 – 15.
In what was rapidly becoming a one-sided game, after the restart the ball was recovered by Basford, and passed to Frenchie who broke through the line with a run of 40m. She popped the ball the Shivvy (note the spelling!) who finished the move with ease 0 – 20. Scottie converted 0 – 22.
With Basford’s forwards dominating the set piece and linking well with the backs, there was still time in the half for another score – Frenchie supplying yet another telling off-load for Scottie to score her third try of the game, (yes – that was a jug Gav had to buy!), with a run from 20m out 0 – 27. Scottie again converted 0 – 29 and the half time whistle blew.
The second half started much as the first ended with Basford pressing forward and Crawley having to kick into touch to clear their lines. From the line out, the ball came to you-know-who, who ran over the line from 5m out, and then converted her own score 0 – 36.
Basford were starting to enjoy their game with great play from both the forwards and backs. Special mention to Cherelle, who took off down the wing with a look on her face that said ‘I don’t do running, will someone come and get this bloody ball off me’. Her team mates obliged but not until she had run for 40m or so!
Basford forced Crawley to clear to touch again and from the line out, after a good set of passes, the ball came to Sarah McB,who went over for her second of the game 0 – 41.
After another 5 minutes of Basford pressure, up stepped you-know-who again, and went over for her fifth try of the game 0 – 46.
The Basford girls wouldn’t let the pressure off and this time Natalie broke off the back of a scrum to go over from 5m out 0 – 51. Scottie kicked the extras 0 – 53.
Before the end of the game, the forwards decided they would have a try, and after some excellent forward play, Sarah C went over with a dive from 2m out 0 – 58. Scottie again converted 0 – 60.
As a spectator, I’d like to congratulate all the girls from both teams for the spirit in which the game was played – hard but fair. Special thanks to the girls from Crawley / E Grinstead for not letting their heads drop and for making a game of it right until the final whistle – well done – we look forward to meeting you again later in the season.
And from a Rochford / Basildon perspective, a special ‘well done’ to Kate, Natasha, Sam, Amy, and Katie on making their debut for the team – I hope you all enjoyed it and look forward to seeing you play many more times!
One last word – Scottie! 5 trys, 5 conversions – fantastic game!
Final result: Crawley / E Grinstead RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 60.
Vs.
Combined Crawley / East Grinstead Girls U18
Sunday 23rd September 2007
Match report courtesy of Phil French
Another girls rugby match, another sunny day! Even Mr. Carmen turned up! (only to show off his new car though!)
The game was played with 14 a side - both teams blooding some new players – and very well they all did.
Crawley kicked off and with a sign of things to come, the Basford girls pressured the home side right from the start - forcing a scrum 5m out on their first attack. The Crawley girls tried to defend, but Basford’s pressure forced another scrum 5m from the line. The scoring was opened when a Crawley player mishandled the ball and Scottie picked up and dived over the line 0 – 5.
From the restart, Crawley brought the ball in to Basford’s half and forced a line out 5m from the Basford line. The line out went Basfords way and they worked the ball from the danger area with Sarah McB making a great run to over the half way line. The ball was popped to Scottie who completed the length of the pitch for her second score 0 – 10.
Basford kept the pressure on with most of the play taking place within Crawley’s half. Crawley cleared to touch and from the resulting line out, the ball was passed across the backs for Sarah McB to touch down 0 – 15.
In what was rapidly becoming a one-sided game, after the restart the ball was recovered by Basford, and passed to Frenchie who broke through the line with a run of 40m. She popped the ball the Shivvy (note the spelling!) who finished the move with ease 0 – 20. Scottie converted 0 – 22.
With Basford’s forwards dominating the set piece and linking well with the backs, there was still time in the half for another score – Frenchie supplying yet another telling off-load for Scottie to score her third try of the game, (yes – that was a jug Gav had to buy!), with a run from 20m out 0 – 27. Scottie again converted 0 – 29 and the half time whistle blew.
The second half started much as the first ended with Basford pressing forward and Crawley having to kick into touch to clear their lines. From the line out, the ball came to you-know-who, who ran over the line from 5m out, and then converted her own score 0 – 36.
Basford were starting to enjoy their game with great play from both the forwards and backs. Special mention to Cherelle, who took off down the wing with a look on her face that said ‘I don’t do running, will someone come and get this bloody ball off me’. Her team mates obliged but not until she had run for 40m or so!
Basford forced Crawley to clear to touch again and from the line out, after a good set of passes, the ball came to Sarah McB,who went over for her second of the game 0 – 41.
After another 5 minutes of Basford pressure, up stepped you-know-who again, and went over for her fifth try of the game 0 – 46.
The Basford girls wouldn’t let the pressure off and this time Natalie broke off the back of a scrum to go over from 5m out 0 – 51. Scottie kicked the extras 0 – 53.
Before the end of the game, the forwards decided they would have a try, and after some excellent forward play, Sarah C went over with a dive from 2m out 0 – 58. Scottie again converted 0 – 60.
As a spectator, I’d like to congratulate all the girls from both teams for the spirit in which the game was played – hard but fair. Special thanks to the girls from Crawley / E Grinstead for not letting their heads drop and for making a game of it right until the final whistle – well done – we look forward to meeting you again later in the season.
And from a Rochford / Basildon perspective, a special ‘well done’ to Kate, Natasha, Sam, Amy, and Katie on making their debut for the team – I hope you all enjoyed it and look forward to seeing you play many more times!
One last word – Scottie! 5 trys, 5 conversions – fantastic game!
Final result: Crawley / E Grinstead RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 60.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Basford v Letchworth
Last Sundays match report courtesy of Phil French.
Thanks to Letchworth for stepping in at the last moment to give both teams a vital run out before the season starts in earnest.
Sunday 16th September 2007
On a sun drenched Sunday morning, the Basford girls made the journey to Letchworh, keen to get the new season underway.
Due to injuries and the tail end of the holiday season, the game was played 11 vs 11, meaning there was space on the pitch for both sides to show what they could do.
Scotty kicked off for Basford with a wonderful kick that meant Letchworth had to touch the ball down behind their posts, giving Basford a 5m scrum, and putting the home side under immediate pressure. From the scrum the ball went wide and Letchworth managed to put the player in touch for a lineout. Basford again applied pressure and from another 5m scrum, the ball was passed to Chivvy who ran for the line only to spill the ball as she crossed it – slight case of cobwebs having to be blown away from the summer break. Still it was a sign of things to come, and within 2 minutes Charlie, playing as stand-in scrum half, forced her way over the line to score the first try of the season 5 – 0. From the kick off, Basford again went on the attack, with the forwards winning good ball and working their way up the field. From 35m out, Cherelle ‘I don’t do running’, broke free and ran in to score under the posts. Scotty duly slotted the conversion over 12 – 0. From the kick off, the Basford forwards again worked the ball up the pitch for Charlie to run in from 10m to score her second of the match. Scotty did the business with the kick again 19 – 0.
The Letchworth girls were looking a bit shell shocked at this point – they had a number of key players missing – but credit to them, they rallied round and put up some sterling defence to keep the Basford girls out of their 22.
Unfortunately, it was about this time that the Basford backs decided that they wanted a bit of ball, and following a series of good passing moves, Sarah McB ran in for a try 24 – 0.
Basford were still applying pressure whenever Letchworth had the ball, and after wining a scrum against the head, the Basford forwards and backs worked in perfect harmony to allow Frenchie to run in to score under the posts. Scotty kicked the extras 31 – 0 at half time.
After half time, there came a period of play that, we hope, shows the shape of things to come. The Basford forwards took the ball into contact, it was re-cycled, and shipped out along the line, with the backs looping around each other for support, and resulting in Sarah McB scoring her second try. A fantastic move from their own 22 in which all 11 players were involved! 36 – 0.
It must have felt good to the players, because 2 minutes later, they did it again, with Frenchie benefiting from receiving the final pass to score 41 – 0.
There was just enough time left for the forwards to show a bit more of their power and dominance with Sarah C going over to make the final score 46 – 0.
The Basford coaches wanted to point out that they were extremely impressed with the way that the whole team were involved in the game, and the fact that the forwards and backs functioned as a unit, with effective communication and support being made available when it was needed. If this is how the girls can play in the first match of the season, how good could they be with a few more matches under their belts! It looks like it may be a good season ahead!
Team:
Sarah C (fastest ‘wingprop’ in the world),
Robyn (good supporting role),
Cherelle( I don’t do running but I can if I must!),
Gemma (great scrumaging),
Alice (pops up everywhere),
Natalie (excellent distribution),
Charlie (is there a position she can’t play?),
Scotty (she’s here, she’s there, she’s every bloody where)
Sarah McB (great running!),
Chivvy (I think that’s boosted your confidence! Excellent!)
Frenchie (just loving it!!)
Final result: Letchford RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 46.
Thanks to Letchworth for stepping in at the last moment to give both teams a vital run out before the season starts in earnest.
Sunday 16th September 2007
On a sun drenched Sunday morning, the Basford girls made the journey to Letchworh, keen to get the new season underway.
Due to injuries and the tail end of the holiday season, the game was played 11 vs 11, meaning there was space on the pitch for both sides to show what they could do.
Scotty kicked off for Basford with a wonderful kick that meant Letchworth had to touch the ball down behind their posts, giving Basford a 5m scrum, and putting the home side under immediate pressure. From the scrum the ball went wide and Letchworth managed to put the player in touch for a lineout. Basford again applied pressure and from another 5m scrum, the ball was passed to Chivvy who ran for the line only to spill the ball as she crossed it – slight case of cobwebs having to be blown away from the summer break. Still it was a sign of things to come, and within 2 minutes Charlie, playing as stand-in scrum half, forced her way over the line to score the first try of the season 5 – 0. From the kick off, Basford again went on the attack, with the forwards winning good ball and working their way up the field. From 35m out, Cherelle ‘I don’t do running’, broke free and ran in to score under the posts. Scotty duly slotted the conversion over 12 – 0. From the kick off, the Basford forwards again worked the ball up the pitch for Charlie to run in from 10m to score her second of the match. Scotty did the business with the kick again 19 – 0.
The Letchworth girls were looking a bit shell shocked at this point – they had a number of key players missing – but credit to them, they rallied round and put up some sterling defence to keep the Basford girls out of their 22.
Unfortunately, it was about this time that the Basford backs decided that they wanted a bit of ball, and following a series of good passing moves, Sarah McB ran in for a try 24 – 0.
Basford were still applying pressure whenever Letchworth had the ball, and after wining a scrum against the head, the Basford forwards and backs worked in perfect harmony to allow Frenchie to run in to score under the posts. Scotty kicked the extras 31 – 0 at half time.
After half time, there came a period of play that, we hope, shows the shape of things to come. The Basford forwards took the ball into contact, it was re-cycled, and shipped out along the line, with the backs looping around each other for support, and resulting in Sarah McB scoring her second try. A fantastic move from their own 22 in which all 11 players were involved! 36 – 0.
It must have felt good to the players, because 2 minutes later, they did it again, with Frenchie benefiting from receiving the final pass to score 41 – 0.
There was just enough time left for the forwards to show a bit more of their power and dominance with Sarah C going over to make the final score 46 – 0.
The Basford coaches wanted to point out that they were extremely impressed with the way that the whole team were involved in the game, and the fact that the forwards and backs functioned as a unit, with effective communication and support being made available when it was needed. If this is how the girls can play in the first match of the season, how good could they be with a few more matches under their belts! It looks like it may be a good season ahead!
Team:
Sarah C (fastest ‘wingprop’ in the world),
Robyn (good supporting role),
Cherelle( I don’t do running but I can if I must!),
Gemma (great scrumaging),
Alice (pops up everywhere),
Natalie (excellent distribution),
Charlie (is there a position she can’t play?),
Scotty (she’s here, she’s there, she’s every bloody where)
Sarah McB (great running!),
Chivvy (I think that’s boosted your confidence! Excellent!)
Frenchie (just loving it!!)
Final result: Letchford RFC 0 Rochford / Basildon 46.
Club Fixtures 23/9/07
Ladies
There is now a change to this weekends fixture.
We are travelling to Crawley Rugby club
U15's will play East Grinstead & London Irish
U18's will play East Grinstead.
We need to be at East Grinstead by 12.30 LATEST
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR AVAILABILITY.
Crawley Rugby Club
Willoughby Fields
Highfield Ave
Crawley
Surrey
Please arrive in your kit, changing will be sparse as the minis will be finishing when we arrive.
All players to wear No1's after the game
There is now a change to this weekends fixture.
We are travelling to Crawley Rugby club
U15's will play East Grinstead & London Irish
U18's will play East Grinstead.
We need to be at East Grinstead by 12.30 LATEST
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR AVAILABILITY.
Crawley Rugby Club
Willoughby Fields
Highfield Ave
Crawley
Surrey
Please arrive in your kit, changing will be sparse as the minis will be finishing when we arrive.
All players to wear No1's after the game
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