U18 GIRLS: STAFFORD (NATIONAL CUP)

Seventy minutes of stressful and intense rugby were played on Sunday 10th December at Stafford’s home ground. It was the final match of the National cup pool stages and ultimately the most suspenseful for the Tamworth under 18 girls as they played Stafford for a ticket to the next round. The score board reflected a ball game with the lead switching between the two teams with each try but in the end it was Tamworth who emerged victorious with a score of 20-26.

The game started with a try and conversion from Tamworth, specifically Eren, and a conversion from Brogan, and offered a question as to how the game would progress. It was answered with hard tackles and numerous line breaks from both teams who seemed evenly matched and both with the fire, passion and determination needed to win. But with ninety seconds remaining and a score of 20-19 Tamworth managed to score one last try and conversion to put them just ahead at the closing of the game. As the clock ran down, Stafford were awarded a five metre scrum on Tamworth’s line and were persistent with their runs toward the line. However Tamworth met them with determination and cut down their every attempt until they gained possession and kicked the ball off the field, granting them the win and an end to the tightest game of the season so far.

Try scorers were Eren, Lucie, Ayala and Millie with Brogan successfully converting three of the four tries. Dames of the game were Izzy for the backs and Ellie for the forwards. Izzy, for her persistent pressure on the opposition scrum half during their scrums and control of the game and Ellie for her strong tackles and constant work on the field. Lucie was selected as Stafford’s player of the match as she posed a threat to them in both attack and defence.

Match report by: Grace Jay