Kent Under 12 Girls!
Kent U12 girls took part in a development day at Welwyn RFC with Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Eastern Counties providing the opposition.
The more experienced Kent girls started off against Eastern Counties who were playing their first fixture at this level. After a close first half, where the outstanding Levey and Kenny for once found it difficult to break down a determined defence shored up by Williams and Clancey (Team Kent but playing for the opposition), until Duffy and Skelly finally got on top in the forwards. This gave Twisk and Kenny the opportunity to show off their fine running skills and with the ever improving Romeril, Daire and Evans making their presence felt, it resulted in a comfortable victory after Duffy and Twisk linked up for a try that was warmly appreciated by the spectators and would not have been out of place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals! Special mention must go to debutant Darroch, who held her nerve, as she seemed to be involved in every move in a frantic first half.
In the second game against Herts, Kent welcomed another debutant in Hepper from Aylesford, but it Twisk who stole the limelight as she proved too much for the defence to handle with 2 early tries created by the quick distribution skills of Evans and some determined running by Duffy and Cannock. With the free running Williams at her very best and Clancey making acres of ground, and it was inevitable that Levey and Kenny would increase their try count for the season. A changed Herts came out fighting in the second half and made it difficult for the Kent girls and it took some hard work by Skelly and Hepper to secure possession for Evans to let the free running backs show off their fine running skills and complete a comfortable win.
In the final game against Middlesex, a depleted Kent (as the matches had over-run and we lost our Evans, Kenny and Williams back line) were really up against it when they initially struggled against some good running by Middlesex and with injuries to Levey and Cannock to deal with Kent lost concentration and Middlesex went into half time leading by 2 tries to 1. The Kent girls regrouped and played for each other as a team with Duffy returned to her best and aided by Clancey, Hepper and Skelly, they dominated up front to starve the Middlesex girls of possession. Having lost the debutant tag, Darroch was heavily involved in the early stages of the second half and set up Daire and Twisk to combine for a try and level the match. The return of Levey sparked the Kent girls as the Middlesex attacks were repelled and Twisk and Levey combined for a couple of fine scores as Kent won by 4 tries to 2. The winning combination of defence and playing to the team’s relative strength witnessed some compelling team rugby when the team needed it most.
All round an extremely successful day but special mention must go to the Kent girls for their sportsmanship and their willingness to help out the other sides when they were short of numbers – never an easy thing to do when you play against your own team mates. The Kent girls continue their busy end of season programme with away trips to the Worthing and Dorking Festivals over the next couple of weeks.
The way in which the squad was immediately inclusive of Hepper, who represented Aylesford Bulls in playing for the Team Kent squad for the first time and the Team Kent players who have now represented more than one county at U12 was particularly impressive. Our thanks to all the organisers of this event and the Players, Coaches and supportive parents is very much appreciated. The players were all tired at the end of this thrilling rugby contest and the welcome post match food, provided by Welwyn RFC, was very much appreciated.
Our thanks also to Jedda for thinking of the U12s and making this all happen for the U12s Girls who were all proud to give their all for Team Kent.
Kent Under 12 Girls continue their winning ways!
Kent Under 12 girls secured their first silverware of the year as they travelled to Wasps RFC to play Middlesex at the County’s youth finals day for the inaugural challenge shield on Sunday 16th March 2008.
The more experienced Kent forwards trio of Chilvers, Clancey and Skelly mastered the driving wind and rain and provided plenty of possession for the backs with Kenny and Levey embarking on a series of runs into the opposition territory with only some fine tackling from the Middlesex defence preventing an early score. After a series of driving mauls and good work at the breakdown by Evans, Skelly emerged with the ball and scored from close range. Kent were quick to score again after Douglas secured a turnover and the ball was shipped quickly to the wing where debutant Cannock took the ball deep into the opposition half before she was stopped, but it was not long before Twisk found a way through the defence and from the resulting ruck Clancey secured possession and went through to score.
Middlesex fought their way back into the Kent half and only a last gasp tackle from Kenny stopped them from scoring. The Kent forwards continued to dominate possession with Chilvers prominent and Evans released Levey down the right wing for a long range score to take Kent into half time leading by 15 – 0.
Middlesex came out fighting in the second half and dominated possession in the opening period. Only desperate defence from the Kent girls prevented a score in the corner but after some great recycling by the hosts it was not long before Kent ran out of defenders and Middlesex found a way through for a fine try.
Kent upped their game after this with Levey, Twisk and Kenny proving to be a real handful with a series of penetrating runs. After some fine defensive work by Clancey, Chilvers secured good possession in the loose and popped to Evans who fed Kenny and her pace proved too much for the defence and she scored in the corner. Kent secure possession from the restart and after Cannock made ground down the left wing, Kent almost scored again after Skelly popped up to Levey in space whose darting run for the line was stopped just short by some extremely brave defence.
Middlesex now tried to run the ball from everywhere and forced their way back into the Kent half again, but quick turnover released Twisk whose mazy run set up good possession for Levey who was stopped just short of the line again, Douglas was quick to secure possession at the breakdown and the ball inevitably found its way to the tireless Kenny as she outpaced the defence to cap off another fine individual performance with her second score and secure a 30 – 5 victory.
Many thanks to the Middlesex officials and Wasps RFC for hosting the game. To everyone’s delight the girls were presented with the Shield and Medals by Wasps and England World Cup Star Tom Rees.
The Kent coaching staff were quick to praise the girls handling and running skill in the atrocious conditions and were delighted with the level of commitment shown.
Kent Under 12 Girls continue their winning ways!
A third outing of the season on Sunday 9th March for the Kent Girls Under 12 team comprising players from Beckenham and Old Alleynians, took them to Welwyn RFC where they played Hertfordshire on a typical spring day in a mixture of sun, rain, wind and occasional calm.
Kent started strongly against the determined Herts girls who defended well against continued attacks including a fantastic try saving tackle on the line as Skelly seemed certain to score after bursting through from the lineout. With Heming working tirelessly in the pack and strong running by Kenny, Levey and Williams Kent continued the pressure on the Herts defence and after securing good possession Duffy emerged from a maul and forced her way over for the opening try. Kent quickly scored again as they returned the kickoff back into the Herts half as good work by Romeril, Clancy, Daire and Williams set up another forwards drive again finished off by the in-form Duffy. Herts had now settled into the game and put concerted pressure on the Kent line before strong defence by Evans, Daire and Kenny forced a turnover and two quick passes were enough for Williams to show off her running skills as she set off the full length of the pitch to score the try of the day which was converted by Kenny much to the surprise and delight of the spectators as Kent went into half time leading by 17 – 0.
Kent continued to dominate possession early in the second half but made no inroads into the opposition territory as strong defence and good work at the breakdown forced errors and turnovers in Herts favour. Herts then had a sustained period of pressure in the Kent half and really tested their defence, but some fine tackling by Heming, Kenny, Williams and Levey kept out the Herts girls and with Skelly and Duffy securing good possession in the pack, Evans released Daire on a fine run down the left wing, quick possession from the resulting breakdown found Clancy in space and she capped off a fine individual performance with a try in the corner. Herts again threatened the Kent defence but they could find no way through with some fine tackling by Levey, Williams and Romeril keeping them at bay. The Beckenham forwards started to dominate possession and provided a good platform for the backs to show off their running skills and following more good work by Williams and Levey, Kenny finished off a well worked try which left the final score at 27-0 to Kent.
Many thanks to John Birch and Peter McCullough from Herts, also to Welwyn RFC for hosting the game and not to forget TJ for refereeing.
The Kent Coaches, were delighted with the girl’s performance and in particular their commitment and teamwork. They have really come a long way in what for many is their first season of rugby. Girls U12 rugby has really taken off in a big way and we now have a of structured fixture list through to the end of the season.
If there are any other U12 girls in the county interested in playing, of any standard, whether or not they have played before, please contact either:-
Paul Skelly: skel@ntlworld.com or 07802 211779
or
Ian Goodhew: familygoodhew@btinternet.com
Folkestone Fillies have given up home advantage in their league fixture with London Irish to enable the game to be a warm up fixture prior to the full England Ladies team meeting with The USA this weekend (Saturday). Folkestone are taking two coach loads of supporters to the match to see the Fillies playing their fourth league game of the season; as an added bonus it will also give both players and supporters the chance to cheer on ex-Folkestone mini Catherine Spencer as she leads out the England team for the first time later in the day at the same venue.
Prior to Saturday's match newly appointed England Ladies' captain Catherine is paying a visit to Folkestone RFC this Thursday evening (13th) to help the Fillies as they prepare for what is looking likely to be their hardest match of the season; against a London Irish U15s side which can name England Women’s Rugby World Cup finalist and Wasps fly-half Shelly Rae amongst their coaches. Also in their coaching team is another England player Fran Matthews and Welsh international Nicky Evans so the Folkestone coaching team of Keith Howland and Marc Spearpoint will be pitting their wits against some formidable opposition. Keith said that "all the girls are looking forward to playing a hard game at Sunbury before seeing Catherine playing in the International against the USA. With Catherine coming to our coaching session on Thursday night it will also boost the girl's confidence for their match on Saturday against a team which has been drawn from several clubs in their surrounding area of Surrey/Middx. Folkestone remains one of the only teams in their league where all the players, with a couple of exceptions, are local and are truly representative of the town whose name they bear"
Whilst the transport is probably full for the visit to Sunbury if anyone is interested in attending the Fillies' game, phone Folkestone RFC on 01303 266887 for further information. If any girls would like to join the Fillies' squad again please call the club for further details, or visit the website at www.folkestonerugbyclub.co.uk where all the season's match reports together with photographs can be found.