Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sunday 4th October 09


Meg & Ellen




Jen & Tash

Jemma,Cat,Ellen, Becky & Meg












Nearly There !!!














Nice Hands Lucie


Jemma (3) Becky (15) Meg (4) Mouse (13)
oh and Stumpy lying down





"Off the back of the scrum from Jen"









Tash (6) about to set of on another jinking run!!!










Great lifting from Cat & Frances as Meg steals the ball











Well here it is the start of another long season.
Both U15’s and U18’s started the defence of the league titles they won last year. The U15’s travelled to play Thanet and the U18’s travelled to Folkestone to play a triangular with Folkestone and H3
Both sides have changed considerably from those of last year, with many new girls joining both teams and with instructions to play to enjoy from the coaches. Last seasons intensity to win win, has been replaced with a more relaxed coaching ethos of enjoy and the results will come !

U15’s
The U15’s opened their 2009/2010 campaign on the sunny Kent coast town of Broadstairs, against Thanet RFC.
A number of players were missing due to injury and other commitments so the majority of the team were either playing their first competitive match or had this year moved up from the mini section.
From the kick off Rochford showed their intention with a demonstration of good support play and great handling skills which resulted in a quick try in the corner by Amber Charlemange. This remained the theme throughout the first half with Rochford simply using their pace out wide, with good scrummaging and mauling work by the forwards to create the platform for the backs to exploit their superiority. The Thanet girls refused to give up and showed dogged determination in their defence whilst continually taking every opportunity to attack the Rochford line. The second half was an extension of the first with Rochford taking their chances, using the wide pitch to provide their wingers the space needed to get past their opponents defence.
Further tries by Abigail Graham (6 in total), Olivia Stembridge, Jessica Charles, Stephanie Smith, Claire Yearwood and Maddie Lockwood ended the game with a final score of Rochford 73 – Thanet 0. Maddie successfully converting 4 of the tries scored.

U18’s
Game 1 saw the home side take to the pitch against Rochford, some early pressure from the forwards saw the 1st 10 minutes being played inside the Folkestone 10 metre line. This sustained pressure was eventually rewarded when Sam went over to open the scoring.Folkestone then started to come back into the game and quickly responded with 2 tries to go in at half time 10-5 up. The second half started as the 1st with Rochford applying pressure on the Folkestone back line. Again the pressure was rewarded when Lucie went over to level the scores. With only minutes left, a surge through the centre from Folkestone was rewarded with a try under the post which was duly converted to give the game 17-10 to Folkestone.
Having watched the 2nd game which was Folkestone against H3 we knew that we were in for a physical game in our final match.
The game against H3 started pretty much as the 1st game with our forwards continually applying pressure to their back line.
After 5mins Jen broke through to crash over to make it 5-0. Shortly after the try H3 asked the ref to go uncontested in the scrums which took our advantage away. With a new and inexperienced back line our girls soon paid the price with their wingers running in 4 tries to make it 20-5. The2nd half again started with our girls applying pressure and trying to get the ball out to the wings. Following a couple of dangerous tackles which went totally unpunished by the match official we lost two of our backs in Hannah and Sophie who are now both doubtful for the trip to Worthing next week. Despite the total inaction by the official who always claimed to be the only person in the ground not to have seen the two tackles that forced the girls off, our girls refused to rise to the bait and tried to play rugby as it should be played.Further tries from H3 made the final score 31-5.
Despite the results the girls played as if they were enjoying the game and came off with smiles on their faces.
With 5 girls in the starting line up who had only ever played tag at school, the whole team performed exceptionally well and the coaching and management staff are proud of each and every one of them.
Team; Sam, Jemma, Frances, Cat, Amy, Ellen, Meg, Lucie, Jen, Yaz, Tash, Hannah, Daisy, Sophie, Becky, Emma, Jade and Lucy

Well done girls you were brilliant

Match reports Courtesy of J Stembridge & P Robson , Pictures Courtesy of Will Tysterman