Match Reports 2006-7

Sunday March 18th 2007

U14’s vs NE U14’s
With rain, hail and snow on route to their first game this season in Newcastle, the U14’s and their coaches weren’t sure what to expect and started to unpack their skis and all weather gear. But once the bus reached host club Percy Park, the sky had cleared, the ground was firm for near perfect conditions with just a bitter cross wind to worry about.

Despite the long journey the North West girls were keen to play rugby from the off and started with a line up containing mostly their more experienced players. Despite losing the toss and playing against the wind and playing up hill in the first 20 minute session, they were immediately on the front foot putting some good passing movements together, with all possession moved wide to test the NE defence. A break from centre Bojan Johnson early on created space on the left and excellent support and persistence from winger Amy Lees (in this position for the first time) helped open the scoring. Immediately from the restart the NE pressed the advantage of the wind to try to push the NW team back onto their line with a huge kick, but strong forward play in the maul and line outs by the NW meant that the NE could not capitalise on position and won little ball. Instead they had to contend with thundering breaks from Amy Johnson and backs Bojan Johnson and Jess Gurney. Direct running at the NE line led to missed tackles and so to further tries from Bojan Johnson and Sara Thorpe, one of which was converted despite the wind by fly half Nieve Jones.

The second session heralded some urgency on the part of the NE, and with fresh players from the NW squad on the field the NE seized the initiative and put pressure on the NW. However good tackling by NE and poor continuity of passing meant the NE were only able to break through once with a score on the left. The NW however weren’t going to roll over and defended well repelling a number of NE attacks. They continued to push forward and a great run from a penalty kick from prop Sara Thorpe forced desperate tackles from the NE, leading to a scrum awarded in NW’s favour, in a good mid field position. Taking a quick look at the NE field positions, scrum half Lily Thorp decided to make a blind side break and ran 40 metres, avoiding the attention of several NE players, to score her debutante try for the team.

The third and final session saw more changes in the NW line up with players rested from the first session. Up hill again, the team continually battered the NE back line and a solo run from Laura Riches across the width of the pitch kept the score going for the NW. Most of the initial play was conducted in the NE half with excellent pressure play stopping the NE making anything of their meagre position. Good forward runs from Amy Johnson helped come close but the referee disallowed further try attempts by Amy and Laura before Laura scored again to bring the try tally to 6. However the NE weren’t finished and kept pushing for a score with the wind in their favour and at the close of play scored a further try and conversion after a good passage of play to bring the final score to 34-10.

So overall, despite the first game playing together and playing away so far from home, a great performance to start off the Regional program.
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Sunday April 1st 2007

U14’s vs EM U14’s Won 20-17
Both teams enjoyed good conditions at Sandbach Rugby club, with sunshine and a blustery wind. NW won the toss and elected to play with the wind and immediately put EM under pressure. Good forward play led to a classic forward break by Amy Johnson who scored in the first 5 mins. EM kicked off into the wind but NW ran the ball straight back at EM and a good passing move across field let to a try from Rachel Higson on the NW left. EM came under pressure but good defence in loose play enabled them to push back and led to a try in reply from Bethan White. NW tried to respond but missed tackles and a strong 200 metre run from Taisiya Marsh and try close to the posts levelled the score 10-10.

At the break both teams took the chance to bring on fresh players and play switched evenly between both sides for 15 mins, with mistakes and penalties conceded on both sides, stopped any continuity. However towards the end of the half, Taisiya Marsh wrestled the ball from a maul near the NW line to sprint 20 metres home to score. A converted try took their lead to 10-17.

With the match finely balanced teams made more changes after the second break, this time with the wind in NW favour. The NW put more pressure and played most of the remaining 20 mins in the EM half. The NW dominated possession and the fresh legs of scrum half Laura Riches, managed to out manoeuvre the EM defence for a try in the left hand corner. With ‘everything to play for’ the NW continued to put pressure on the EM and a lose ball at a lineout 10 metres out from the EM line was picked up by Amy Johnson and she thundered over to score.

With 3 points in it EM got a new lease of life and managed to get into the NW half but weren’t able to penetrate the NW defensive line at the end to give a closely fought win to the NW. Well done both teams, a very tight game enjoyed by all, played in the best spirit of rugby where all squad members on both sides got game

time and plenty of experience looking forward to the Royal & Sun Alliance tournament in a few weeks time.
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Royal and Sun Alliance Tournament