Youth Girl's Rugby - News
Kent 7s Entry Form.doc >>>
Kent Girls' 7s Invite Letter.doc >>>
CPR is keen to promote rugby in the area and in particular sport to girls and women. This game will be one of the highest profile games this season to be played outside of London and the Home Counties.
The Belgium RFU are using it as a warm up game before they play in the FIRA/AER European Cup in the Netherlands in May.
Cinque Ports Rugby is hoping to attract a large crowd to see this game and wondered if you felt able to promote to the girls and boys in your school who are interested in rugby.
Any help you might be able to give to promote this match CPR are staging will be much appreciated.
If you are coming, could we ask you to let us know, there is car parking on site at the Grove School , but if there are coaches/mini buses involved we would like to know in advance. Also we will have some limited refreshments and t-shirts etc on sale.
Sunday 18 November 2007 was an historic and memorable day, with Hitchin RFC the venue, for what we believe was a first for Under 12 Girls in the county. A total of eleven girls who have been playing their rugby at Old Alleynians and Beckenham rugby clubs joined forces to represent Kent in a triangular rugby fixture involving Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Despite the long journey and sub-artic conditions Kent started brightly in their first game against Herts and through some strong running by captain Matilda Williams and Sianne Duffy and some excellent work by Emily Romeril they moved into a 10-0 lead. Herts regrouped and showing excellent ball recycling and good distribution skills they scored 3 unanswered tries to lead 15-10 at half time. Herts dominated possession early in the second half and added 2 quick tries despite some unbelievable cover tackling by Ella Levey, Williams and Abigail Twisk. The Kent girls failed to capitalise on some excellent restarts by Rebecca Chilvers but grew in confidence as the half wore on and with Ella Daire stealing possession and some excellent work at the breakdown by Katie Skelly, Ella Clancey and Freya Kirby they created several scoring opportunities. The hardworking May Douglas went close to scoring but the home defence held out and Herts finished deserved winners by 25-10.
Kent played Middlesex in their second game and again started strongly. The forward trio of Clancy, Kirby and Skelly dominated the set pieces and provided the perfect platform for Williams and Twisk to show off their sublime running skills resulting in 3 quick tries. Middlesex soon caught up with the pace of the game and had Kent on the back foot for periods of the first half but strong tackling by the centre pairing of Douglas and Chilvers and determined work at the breakdown by Daire, Romeril and Duffy held them out. A glorious Kent try on the stroke of half time which covered the length of the pitch over three phases and more than a dozen passes with some beautiful offloading in the tackle, was warmly appreciated by both sets of freezing spectators. Middlesex were determined to show exactly how good they were and moved the ball quickly around the pitch and fought their way back into contention with 3 excellent tries. The Kent girls refused to panic and led by the outstanding trio of Levey, Williams and Twisk, a well worked try was finished off by Kirby. With Skelly and Clancey now dominating possession the threat of a second Middlesex revival was thwarted and Kent held out to seal victory by 25-15.
A very big thank you to the Hitchin / Herts organisers for hosting the day and in particular John Birch for his excellent refereeing.
A delighted Coach Ian Goodhew commented, “All the girls taking part were a credit to themselves, their counties and the sport they are learning so fast. Any doubts clubs and county organizers have had in the past, about being able to raise a girls U12 rugby team and find competitive matches, were dispelled by all the girls today. All the players have every reason to be proud of the way they played. Another memorable day of rugby for all concerned”
Paul Skelly, Manager/Coach
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