U15's Sunday 23rd September

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.