Sunday 13th Dec 09 v ACT Jaguars

Now that the County programme is behind us, the girls set about their league fixtures with a home game again ACT Jaguars, (Aylesford Bulls)
With the Rochford boys having played earlier, there was quite a crowd of players and parents who stayed to watch the girls and they were not to be disappointed.

U15’s
Rochford U15's won a hard fought contest with Aylesford Bulls on Sunday 19 - 7 Facing a side of Kent players who had previously beaten our girls, the game started with Aylesford having the territorial advantage for much of the first half. Some solid defending form Maddie and skipper Olivia and try saving tackles by Abbie G and Abbie C kept the score line even. As the half progressed the forwards began to come into their own and started to get more possession, but unfortunately poor handling often led to attacks breaking down before any great pressure was put on the Aylesford line. The half ended even with neither side being able to score. Rochford upped their game in the second half as the forwards started to compete more aggressively and win a lot more ball and drive the Kent side back. Ball was being set up and released to the backs where Olivia, Jess, Bianca, Maddie and Abbie G had attacking runs finished by desperate Bulls defending. Although the lineout was not working well the scrum was working well and good ball was being won on a regular basis. Eventually the passing of the ball found Abbie G in space and the speedster raced around the defence to score uner the posts with Maddie adding the conversion to give a deserved lead. The lead was soon increased as Rochford chased and harried a kick ahead from Maddie and from the resulting ruck near the Aylesford line Faye gathered the ball and squirmed over near the posts to give Maddie another conversion chance which she took. This seemed to awake Aylesford to greater urgency and from the kick off pounced on a loose ball, after a hesitation in the Rochford defence, and managed to drive forward and score near the posts to give a conversion chance which they took to make the score 14 - 7. Aylesford continued to press but were penalised for various infringements on a regular basis. Rochford took advantage of this and continued to counter attack with runs from the backs. One in particular by Abbie C almost paid off but she was unable to force her way through with 4 defenders just holding her. Time was ticking away and in the last play of the game the ball was passed out to Abbie G who managed to outpace the cover defence to score in the corner and so end the game with a well deserved 19 - 7 victory.

U18’s
Having been reduced to the bare minimum 15 prior to kick off with the withdrawal of 3 players the Rochford girls faced a tough encounter against one of the leagues strongest teams. With both sides fielding county and regional players it promised to be a lively game.
From the kick off the Rochford girls took the game to ACT and were rewarded within the first 3 minutes with a try by India following some great handling and off loading by Lucie and Ellie in the centres.5-0. From the restart the girls quickly pushed forward into the ACT 10, and were again rewarded with a superbly taken try from India. 10-0. With the bit between their teeth the girls carried on pushing forward looking for more points to widen the gap between the teams. With Sam Smith commanding as ever in the front row the forwards were driving over and allowing Jen to play quick ball out to the backs. Within 10 minutes the girls had made the breakthrough they were after as Tash was fed out on the wing to run in try no 3 under the posts. 15-0
ACT slowly started to force their way back into the game and their forwards started to take control allowing their backs plenty of ball to run at the Rochford line. Solid defending by the girls with the backs in Tash, India and Ellie making some important tackles kept ACT at bay until just on half time when they broke through to make it 15-5.
The second half started with ACT pushing to try and narrow the score and with the Rochford girls infringing at the break down the referee seemed the busiest person on the pitch.
The Rochford forwards soon started to get a hold back on the game and some nice runs from Ellen gained valuable yards. With Sam and Amy making big hits from the front row, the girls were dominating the scrums and all but one of the line outs were won by Meg following some excellent lifting from Cat and Jemma.
Having lost one of their front row to an injury, ACT requested that the game went to uncontested scrums which took the slight advantage away from the Rochford Girls, however with Jen sniping around the scrum the pressure was kept on ACT and was duly rewarded with a 4th try by Ellie which was duly converted by India. 22-5.
The game had to be halted with 10 mins to go to allow the Air Ambulance to land on the adjacent pitch due to an injury to an ACT u15.
Hopes for a speedy recovery are sent from all at Rochford.

The win gives the girls a big boost ready for the upcoming game on the 20th against Saracens.

Team: Sam, Amy, Jemma, Cat, Becky, Bron, Megan, Ellen, Jen (Capt), Yaz, India, Lucie, Ellie, Tash, Becky F.

Well done girls a great result that lifts you back up the league.