Park Strife

The resulting “friendly” game then varied from frustrating > embarrassing > exciting as the afternoon progressed.

In fact, just the scoring sequence would suffice as a short match report (WPL first):
0-7, 5-7, 12-7, 19-7, 26-7, 31-7, 38-7 H/T.
45-7, 45-14, 45-21, 45-28, 45-33, 45-38, 45-45 F/T.

The circumstances?

Frustrating: Having brought a squad of 16 players (including two walking wounded, Manchester selected a strong 10s side with 4 rolling subs
However, a late realisation by WPL that they could not field a team to play a 10 a side match as expected meant a hastily arranged game of 7s with Manchester lending a player or three and a game starting on a particularly small pitch (played crossways with the five metre lines as try lines, and the half way line and the posts’ five metre line as touch lines).

Embarrassing: Well, the phrase “at sixes and sevens” summed up the first half and Manchester's poor performance. WPL’s six players (supplemented by Bethan Emuss who scored a cracking try for the opposition and them got injured for her sins!), started to run Manchester’s unbalanced starting line-up ragged.
With players loaned and out of position, Manchester had very little shape and it has to be said that their skill levels dropped alarmingly with the surprise format.

Half time arrived (eventually) with Manchester taking a battering at 38-7. A discussion between coaches, managers and referees ensued with all in agreement (including WPL to their credit) that this format was not fair and WPL confirming that they had conceded the match but that they would like their girls and Manchester’s large travelling squad to get some game time. It was therefore agreed to play the match out at 10 a side (as originally expected!), on a more suitably sized pitch.
The loaning of players was still unsatisfactory but necessary – to illustrate, although 38-7 down, Nieve Jones as a key Manchester player was loaned to the opposition in an effort to form a balanced Manchester team and keep the numbers even.

Exciting: See scoring sequence above…! Despite a temporary continuation of the ‘embarrassing’ section when WPL scored first after the restart, Manchester roared back from 45-7 down to score six unanswered tries to tie the game at 45 points apiece. No injury time was allowed by the referee and, although Manchester were in the ascendancy, maybe a drawn friendly was for the best all things considered.

It is doubtful that we will see that score again. Although Manchester undeniably finished strongly playing their more familiar game, work needs to be put into the handling and tackling skills which were a let down even in the exceptional circumstances of the day.

Pictures here>>>
http://picasaweb.google.com/manchestergirlsrugby/WPLeedsU18VManchesterU18#