So Sunday 5th October was another away day trip... this time to Melkham at Melton Mowbray.
This was another chance for our girls to Team up with Burton and Ashby... in a Burton fixture, with Burton Shirts being worn.

A number of girls were missing due to work and family commitments, with a few injuries... meaning we had 12 fit players! Melkham agreed to lend some players, so rugby could be played and that's only a great thing for all the girls!

We were receiving the kick off into the wind, after captain Maddie won the toss.
From the off, Melkham showed that they were a strong team with some fantastic rucking and strong forward play.
They crossed the line a few minutes into the game starting with a well worked try.

Another try followed, 5 minutes later - 12 - 0

Finally, our girls seemed to spark into life.
Tackles all of a sudden were sticking, rucks were being turned over and our forwards were starting to stamp their authority.

From a strong bit of play, Captain Maddie rucked over Kenadie, secured the ball for Lillie to punch through the defence and score a great try!

Skye converted - 12 - 7

From there, it was back and forth for most of the next 10 mins or so... lots of scrums and lineouts, with some steals for both sides.

Melkham backs then took some brilliant slick backs play to our girls...eventually crossing the line twice more in quick succession.

Both tries were unconverted, leaving the score 22 - 7 at HT.

The girls were in good spirits, mentioning how they had managed to control large parts of the game, without getting on the score sheet. They all agreed that they needed to get into rucks quicker, and dominate contact!

From the next kick off.... wow!!!! The girls really did hit back hard... a fumbled ball from the restart, set us up, centre pitch with a scrum. Ken picked it up at 8, shot out, straight to the backs who almost crossed over without the hint of a forward being involved after the scrum... just short... until Lillie picked up and crossed over... her 2nd try of the game!

Skye converts - 22 - 14

Melkham, reworked their line up, and changed their girls playing with us.

After some more pressure by Melkham through their quick backs, they ran in two further tries in quick succession.
Both converted - 36 - 14.

Our girls went again, and the last 10minutes were all them!
A fantastic ruck sequence allowed for our backs to find some room, with a Melkham player finishing the move -

Conversion just missed - 36 - 19.

Then, with 3 minutes, our pressure told... Melkham were put on the back foot by our forwards, in what I think was some of our best play so far this season.
Penalty after penalty was earnt, and we crept forward towards the try line.
Maddie took it into contact, Ken smashed into Rucks clearing out Melkham girls... a fantastic carry from Eleanor, another from Emmi... then our backs shipped it out to the fantastic Amele, who crossed right under the posts...what a finish!

Skye converts to take the final score to 36 - 26 to Melkham.

A loss, yes, but wow... some great play even in defeat.

The girls grouped together --- Burton on 3... 1... 2... 3 BURTON!

Some war wounds, but fantastic play!

Back of the day: Amele
Forward of the day: Captain Mads!