Letchworth U14 Girls 51, Milton Keynes 12
The sterling efforts of rugby development officers in Hertfordshire bore fruit on Sunday when the first of the county’s new girls teams took the field. After a mere six weeks’ training Letchworth’s Under 14 girls played their first match - and ran out impressive victors over Milton Keynes.
In front of a sizable crowd of parents, friends, and members of the club’s 1st XV, Letchworth built their victory on the back of a rock solid defence, superb support play, and excellent handling.
Ruby Sharp made “history” after less than five minutes when she went over for the first try following a long jinking run. Three more unanswered tries – including two from team captain Hayley Guilder - were to follow in the first half, which, with a conversion from hooker Carla Kelly, left Letchworth 22-0 up at the break.
All this despite Milton Keynes having as much, if not more, of the ball. Milton Keynes have several talented players, but for a team that had only been introduced to contact rugby last month, Letchworth astonished onlookers with their awareness, their uncompromising tackling, their intelligent use of rucks and mauls, and impressive teamwork all round. Even when players were off the field being treated for injuries, Letchworth’s defence remained impeccable. Whenever a Milton Keynes player had the ball they always found themselves facing a wall of black shirts.
Milton Keynes’ pressure finally paid off in the middle of the second half with two tries, one of which was converted, but by now Letchworth were over 30 points ahead. As their opponents began to tire Letchworth took advantage with three tries in less than five minutes as the clock ran down. But Milton Keynes never gave up, and play ended with Milton Keynes on the attack – but being foiled again by the untiring Letchworth defence.
When the final whistle went Letchworth had triumphed by 51 points to 12, nine tries (three converted) to two (one converted).
Girls’ coach John Birch was delighted. “A year ago we had only two girls. Then we got involved in Hertfordshire Active Sports’ tag rugby scheme last spring, started this season with about 10 players, and now we have something like twenty.
“Everyone at the club has been determined to make this work. The girls have been made to feel a central – and essential - part of the club, with the best junior coaches taking it in turns to join me at training twice a week. Word of mouth has pulled the girls in – and the respect shown to them has kept them.
“It was great to hear that the scores were being telephoned throughout the morning to our junior teams playing away at Luton, resulting in outbreaks of cheering there that may have confused many!”
At the end of the day one spectator summed up things up perfectly “they looked like they’d been playing together for years, not weeks!”
NOTES
1. Several photographs from the game are attached. Higher quality copies of each image are available if required. |
