Opening Win for County Girls

An excellent game of rugby between two talented sides saw Cheshire overcome a spirited North Midlands performance at Sandbach RUFC.

North Midlands had the best of the opening possession, soon establishing themselves in the Cheshire half. Their efforts to break into the 22 however were thwarted by tactical kicking from Rebecca Scholes which continually pushed them back towards the half way line. Any loose kicks were well fielded however and Cheshire’s defence needed to be strong to resist.

As the visitors became more impatient, two penalties for offside, one advanced ten metres for not retreating, gradually allowed Sandbach into a better field position. Charlee Chambers and then Rebecca were the first to threaten the North Midlands line, but it was a scintillating run by Katy Morten along the wing and deep into the visitors’ 22 which came nearest to opening the scoring. North Midlands’ excellent full back had to be strong and precise to prevent the score.

The Midlanders were now on the back foot and, as the forwards secured a good platform, Rebecca twice almost reached the line with sniping runs before squeezing over the line to take a 5-0 advantage.

Abby Walker was looking dangerous on the left wing and took a desperate high tackle as she sprinted towards the 22. Jess Gurney was on hand to take a quick tap penalty, feeding the ball out to Trudy Mercer running at a great angle only for it to be dropped in a strong tackle on the line. It was now all Cheshire possession but the well organised North Midlands defence resisted well.

Lucy Earlam and Rebecca Scholes were forming a formidable half back partnership. This resulted in a training paddock try as Lucy released the ball from the base of an attacking scrum into Beck’s path for an unstoppable run from just ten metres out. The sides turned round with Cheshire certainly having earned their 10-0 advantage.

With North Midlands still very competitive however, it was important that the home side grabbed the next score to create some daylight on the scoreboard. The forwards were aggressive in the loose and didn’t need their backs as they pressured the visitors’ line, kept possession, and county captain Tash Doyle somehow stretched over for a try, converted by Becks to establish a comfortable looking 17-0 lead.

Cheshire’s backs now decided to show the forwards what they could do with some great three-quarters play, slick passes and well timed offloads, finally reaching Abby Walker on the wing for her to take a well deserved try in the corner to bring the score to 22-0.

North Midlands continued to battle and were good value for their opening try when a line out midway into Cheshire’s half was won cleanly. The ball was fed out efficiently from scrum half all the way through to their winger who, with the touchline looming, expertly cut back inside to score under the posts, converted to 22-7. Lucy Earlam who had had an excellent game took a knock in her efforts to defend this score and Cheshire reorganised with Amy Lees brought into scrum half and Katy Morten returning to the field.

Cheshire were anxious to bounce back from conceding the try and a strong run by Trudi Mercer was stopped only metres from the line which the forwards pounced on. Alyx Maw was held up over the line and it looked as if the visitors had escaped when they took the resulting defensive scrum against the head. Quick reactions forced them back over their own try line however, and this time no mistake was made as Jo Brown at No.8 picked up from the back of the second five metre scrum and drove over the line to restore the twenty point gap at 27-7.

Excellent team work amongst the forwards almost gave Jo her second try soon after, as the Cheshire pack swarmed into the Midlanders 22, driving towards their line. Jo wasn’t able to make it this time but the support was there and aggressive mauling by Alyx Maw gave the forwards another try and Cheshire an unassailable advantage at 32-7.

Still North Midlands refused to give up, determined to finish on a high. Cheshire had to work hard to defend two tap-and-go penalties just ten metres from their line before their defence was finally over stretched when the ball was worked quickly across the pitch for the final try of the game to be touched down wide, impressively converted to bring the final score to 32-14.

This was an excellent example of U18 Girls rugby, both determined in defence and skilful in attack. Cheshire now look forward to their second challenge, away to Northumberland in December.

Photos here, thanks to Emma Broadbent>>>
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