The Surrey girls marched out of the dressing room and into perfect playing conditions; bright and surprisingly warm with little or no breeze, the going was good, only to find their opponents in a focused huddle on the half-way line.

            From the off Surrey took the game to Hampshire, playing in their face and rucking like women possessed, this pressure soon began to tell as the Hampshire defence began to creak and small chinks in the line became apparent, with pressure came points. The most memorable of which, the third, came from deep in Surrey territory and slightly against the run of play at that point. The Surrey fullback, Stacey Hollier, gathered up the ball, looked up, chipped over the rushing Hampshire defence before re-gathering, and setting off apace down the field, by the time she had reached the half way she was in need of support, it came from her left in the shape of Tina Lee, the Surrey 10, who turned on the after-burners to gas round the Hampshire cover on her way to the try line. Tina dotted down right between the sticks enabling Stacey, to slot a relatively easy place kick for the extras. At the break after a couple more tries Surrey had amassed what would turn out to be an unassailable lead and went in ahead at 22-0.

            The second half promised to be a cracker, and it didn’t disappoint. Hampshire, obviously received the right words of encouragement form their coaching staff, as they came out the stronger side, and all credit to them they threw everything at Surrey in the second period including the kitchen sink but some how Surrey held them out. To a woman the defence was inspired. Some of the attacking shape of the first half was lost as Surrey rang the changes, yet each and every player defended as if her life depended on it. Thanks must go to all involved on the pitch that day for creating some of the most entertaining and watchable rugby known to all mankind.