Just a brief note to congratulate all the girls (U12s and U15s) on a very good performance and display of Rugby today.
The U12s winning score line against both Ealing and Herts was 8 trys to nil.
For the four girls who played in the Ealing vs Herts this match, was won by the joint Ealing and Kent team by 2 trys to 1.
The quality of the support play continues to be a key feature of the U12s Kent squad's play and their success.
The defence when tested was firmly in place and the straight running and use of the space outside led to the squad scoring 16 trys. (As well as the two trys for Ealing). This matches the 16 trys scored in the squads previous match.
The newer players to the game improve with every game and our more experience players formed a solid team that make it appear that the squad had been playing together for sometime rather than having just met for the first time today. We had the best of the bad weather to play in but it was still a very cold and wet day.
Evans took control at scrum half and the quick ball won by Tolley, Williams. Simpson, Hudspeth, Romeril, led to all the backs, Kenny, Levey, Nicholl, and Leech scoring trys. Newman and Twisk offered more options on the wing, with Twisk putting in some good defence and attacking runs, Newman playing in her first game grew in confidence over the games.
Good teams win games but not to concede a try is a great performance. Our opposition improved during the match, and in the case of Herts their performance as a team was much improved since our last encounter. Rotating players to balance teams and game time is never easy, and the girls were all good at ensuring the players were supported.
The squad today was: Matilda Williams Laura Tolley Emily Romeril Hettie Newman Lizzy Nicholl Sophie Hudspeth Alexandra Simpson Amy Kenny Ella Levey Morgen Evans Aegean Leech Abigal Twisk (Beth Henderson) |
Joining in today's Rugby games was also the Beckenham and Old Alleynian U15 squad who joined in with the initial warm-up session and then had a match between themselves. Making this special occasion - the first girls to have played rugby at Dulwich College, an experience I hope everyone enjoyed.
With particular thanks to all the supporters, Paul who led the U15s session and to Maureen who provided First Aid cover to all. As well as Beth Henderson, who as an U10 was not eligible to play and came along to join in with the warm-up session and support the players.
This event would not have been possible without the support from The Master at Dulwich College and school groundstaff, and I would like to acknowledge their support in making this happen. The girls can now say that they have played on the same pitch as the two Old Alleynians (Dulwich College old boys) players in the current England Squad. (Nick Easter and Andrew Sheridan). The occasion was also notable for the refereeing by Harry Goodhew, who is also part of the Alleynian Minis U12s squad, and may be the youngest qualified referee (ELRA 1 and ELRA 2).
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MATCH REPORT: 9th November 2008 Kent U12s v Hertfordshire U12s
Played at Welwyn RFC
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The famous Eight Kent U12s played their first match of the season on 9th November 2008 at Welwyn RFC.
Kent U12 Squad: Aegean Leech, Matilda Williams, Lizzy Nicholl, Sophia Diaz- Hudspeth, Ella Levey, Amy Kenny (capt), Morgen Evans, Alexandra Simpson
A wet cold day saw the Kent team turn up to play a Hertfordshire squad almost twice their size in numbers.
The first try was scored within the opening seconds of the game. Hertfordshire kicked-off and Leech gathered and ran the ball straight through the middle to score. This set the tone of the match.
The game was played in three periods of 10 minutes, to enable Hertfordshire to rotate their sizable squad, while the Kent 8 stayed on the pitch for the whole 30 minutes. In the first 10 minutes Kent scored six tries without response. Hertfordshire came back strongly in the second period with Kent defending well and pouncing on any loose ball.
Hudspeth, Simpson and Williams scrummed well and although Hertfordshire had the stronger pack, they held their own and set-up many phases of ball for the back line to score either through the middle or out wide.
Evans fed the ball quickly from set pieces and the breakdown, with Leech making a number of strong breaks and offloading to Kenny and Levey playing at centre. Nicholl proved she could also breakdown the Hertfordshire defence and as the game went on the link between Leech, Levey and Kenny ensured that all our backs scored tries
Hertfordshire continued to push forward at every opportunity and were rewarded with a well-deserved try in the third period of the match from sustained pressure coming from a series of mauls.
At the breakdown Levey and Williams were everywhere and ensured that if the ball looked to be lost it somehow found its way back to Evans and Leech.
This was the first competitive contact game that Hudspeth and Simpson have played and they both looked like they had played many times before, and it was pleasing to see how much they improved during the game.
Whilst the score line was one sided this was only because the Kent girls made the important tackles on the gain line; the Hertfordshire girls were the less experienced side but improved throughout the game.
Pleasingly Kent’s support play was a joy to watch and as this was their first match this season they have set themselves a high standard to follow.
Many thanks go to all the parents, supporters and siblings who watched and supported the good rugby from both sides, in difficult conditions. Hertfordshire were good hosts, the referee ensured a fair game for all and the Hertfordshire hospitality was vey much appreciated.
The final score was 16 - 1 (Leech – 6; Levy & Williams 4 each; Kenny & Nicholl 1 each). The player of the match was unanimously voted for by players and coaches alike and was Aegean Leech, for her great contribution to the game, and her six tries.
A final thanks to Patient Access Solutions Limited for sponsoring the girls' shirts, they proved to be very popular with the players who all wanted to keep them!