The first half saw our girls pinned deep in their own half for the entirety of the first half. Nottingham came out firing, running in tries at pace and punishing any gaps in our defensive line. Our discipline and structure completely slipped, and the opposition took full advantage of the space created.

Despite the difficult first 35 minutes, one thing that never wavered was our girls’ commitment to tackling, with Izzy and Stephanie leading the way in defensive effort.

Rucks also proved problematic throughout the half. The girls showed a bit too much respect to the opposition at the breakdown, allowing them to recycle possession easily. Combined with a lack of line speed, Nottingham were able to build momentum and move the ball well across the pitch.

The first half ended 48–0, just two points short of the mercy rule/regualtion.

Second Half Revival:
After a short and honest half-time chat, the team returned to the field looking rejuvenated and ready to fight back. The response was immediate — Captain Constance crashed over for our opening try out wide, giving Tamworth their first points of the day. The conversion missed, but the intent was clear: Tamworth were not done yet, Score: 48–5.

Nottingham replied quickly with a long-range kick-and-chase try, taking the score to 55–5 and officially ending the match.

After a short break and discussion, both sides agreed to participate in playing/development, and what followed was a superb display of character from our girls.

Shortly after, there was an unfortunate collision between Maddie and Izzy, who both went in bravely for a strong tackle and collided heads, reducing the fixture to 13-a-side for the remainder of the match.

Tamworth responded superbly, playing with confidence and determination, running hard lines through midfield. Vina powered over for our second try, with Stephanie adding the extras.

Nottingham then struck twice more — one unconverted and one converted.

But Tamworth weren’t done yet. A brilliant combination from Vina, Siteri, and Stephanie drove the team deep into Nottingham territory. From a quick ruck, Grace was released down the blindside and showed great determination to score under the posts. Stephanie slotted the conversion.

A final Nottingham try in the corner brought the game to a close, but the second-half response from Tamworth was outstanding.

Post-Match Reflections:
After a challenging first half, the girls responded with incredible pride, teamwork, and determination. The second-half performance showed what this team is truly capable of when they believe in themselves and play with confidence.

We wish both Maddie and Izzy a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them back out on the pitch soon.

Dames of the Game:
Forwards: Maddie – relentless at the breakdown, fearless in contact, and a real thorn in the opposition’s side.
Backs: Stephanie – discovered her tackling prowess and led by example throughout the match.

Super proud of all the girls today — they showed grit, spirit, and character in abundance. Well done team!