Sunday 24th January 2010

Rochford v Folkestone Fillies

After weeks of inactivity due to the recent bad weather, the U18’s resumed their league fixtures with a “Home” game against Folkestone Fillies.
Due a fixture back log and pitches still being the worse for wear, the Rochford ground was unavailable to stage the game this weekend and it meant either another postponement or look for a different venue.
Following a few calls, Eton Manor RFC in Wanstead kindly offered the use of their ground to allow the game to go ahead.
With an almost full strength side, the girls were looking to avenge the 19-17 defeat the suffered at Folkestone on the opening day of the season.
Unfortunately things did not pan out as expected, as the first 20 minutes saw the girls playing some disjointed rugby which resulted in them being put under continuous pressure from Folkestone.
The lack of match practice and training was becoming obvious with misplaced kicks and missed tackles.
Folkestones pressure soon paid off when a passage of sustained pressure allowed the ball to be played out wide for their winger to run in a try in the corner. 0-5
From the resulting restart Folkestone again attacked the Rochford line but with the forwards starting to grow in confidence they started to push the opposition back and give Jen time to start playing balls from the back of the rucks to India and Ellie in the centres who started to make penetrating runs through the Folkestone defence.
Following a nice interchange of passing between Yaz, India and Ellie the ball was fed back to India who broke through to go over the line for the girl’s first try of the day. India duly converted the kick to give the girls at 7-5 lead.
Play moved back and forth as both sides played some good rugby looking for the next score. This came in the way of a penalty to Folkestone in front of the posts following a passage of pressure on the Rochford Line. As the penalty was put over to give Folkestone a 7-8 Lead the referee blew for half time.
The start of the 2nd half was delayed as a Folkestone player was being treated for an injury picked up prior to the penalty being awarded. Unfortunately as it looked like a bad injury to the girls ankle, play was switched to the adjoining pitch to allow the game to restart while awaiting an ambulance to arrive to look after the injury.
The 2nd half started much more positively for the Rochford girls and they were soon pegging Folkestone back on their 10m line. Following some great rucking from Sam and Megan, Jen played a lovely ball out to Yaz who sidestepped a Folkestone player and fed the ball to Ellie who went over to make it 12-8.
From the restart the girls piled forward again and with Amy continually taking the ball into the Folkestone 10 with some excellent breaks, the pressure soon paid off as Yaz picked the ball from the back of the ruck and ran wide to go over to make it 17-8.
Folkestone tried to mount a fight back but the forwards were piling in at every opportunity and winning the ball with Cat and Becki being in every ruck. The girl’s confidence by now was allowing them to play the ball across the back line and make continued breaks for the Folkestone line. This soon paid of following an interchange between Meg and Lucy which enabled Lucie to make about 10m before she was held up, a quick pass to Meg who was supporting her saw her make a further 10m before offloading back to lucie who drew the defender and played a little pop pass to Ellie who crashed through 2 defenders to go over to make it 23-8.
Following the restart the ball was collected by Lucie who spun the ball wide to Tash to make a break, a couple of inside passes soon saw the ball in Indias hands who broke through to go over under the posts 28-8.
With the minutes ticking away Ellie made a great break through for the line and with meg supporting she played the ball inside for meg to go over, however the ref deemed that the pass had gone forward and awarded a scrum to Folkestone.
This was to be the last play of what had been an entertaining game of Rugby.

Credit goes to both sides for trying to play an attacking game and despite the lack of match fitness on both sides it was a good game of rugby for all the spectators who had turned up at Eton Manor to watch.

A big big thanks go to All the staff at Eton Manor for their Hospitality and especially Jane and Gary Wood for helping to set it up. Also to Neil who kindly refereed the game.
Thanks Eton Manor RFC.

Team
1) Sam
2) Amy
3) Jemma
4) Cat
5) Becki H
6) Ellen
7)Megan
8)Lucie
9)Jen (Capt)
10) Yaz
11)India
12)Ellie
13)Tash
14)Becki F

Well done girls that puts us back in with a shout at the title again.