U18 Girls Match Reports 2009-10

September 13th Sandbach/Manchester/Nrthwich vs Colwyn Bay (Sandbach)
Lost 20-10

In similar fashion to the U15 match, Sandbach/Manchester took the opportunity to play some new players alongside a number of players moving up from last season U15s squad to the senior girls’ age group. The experience of the players was clear and a bruising tactical game was played out amongst the forwards for the first quarter. Colwyn Bay broke the deadlock with an excellent try down the left wing, touched down under the posts. The quarter had been won by the Mermaids territorially so the try seemed a fair reward for their efforts. Disappointingly for the home side, the second quarter yielded a quick try for the streetwise visitors who, having been awarded a scrum deep in the attacking 22, held the ball in the pack until the back row crashed over to double the advantage.The Sandbach/Manchester girls were by now working well together with Mollie Latham at No 8 and Captain, keeping the pack tight and determined. In fact, the well drilled pack soon won good ball for Jordan Morris and Nieve Jones at half backs to finally get the ball moving along their three quarters. In a sweeping attack, the ball was moved out to Hannah Johnson strongly supported by Rachel outside her on the wing. The duo were only denied a score by some effective last ditch defending. It was obvious that the game was certainly not beyond Sandbach/Manchester at half time, and a quick penalty following sustained pressure allowed Amy Johnson to deservedly register her team’s first score.The pressure was maintained by Sandbach/Manchester both in terms of possession and field position, and it seemed inevitable that the equalising try was going to be scored. Cruelly, a breakaway try from a rare loose ball saw the Mermaids very fortunate to close out the third quarter at 15-5.Having established a clear advantage on the scoreboard although not necessarily on the pitch, the visitors were galvanised for one big effort to put the match out of reach of their hosts and their quick try at the start of the third quarter effectively did that.What could not be denied however is that Sandbach/Manchester scored easily the try of the day late in the game, when Hannah Johnson collected the ball behind her own 10m line, having moved in from her wing. Seeing an opening ahead of her, Hannah decided to use her pace to round the forwards and then take on the Welsh centre and opposing wing. The two three quarters were cleared, but some determined running by the Colwyn Bay full back almost halted the flying wing who had to call on reserves of strength as well as speed to force herself over in the corner for a memorable score.

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October 11th Northwich/Sandbach/Manchester vs Caldy Won 46-17

Sandbach U18 Girls have made an impressive start to their North West Merit League campaign with a convincing victory against Caldy. In a sporting but combative contest, Sandbach again showed powerful forward play, but pleasingly were not afraid to release their rapid backs to do the damage on the scoreboard.

The first exchanges were not promising with both teams gifting a try to their opponents, Hannah Johnson being the first beneficiary before the hosts were allowed to equalise. From that score on, every point was hard earned with some excellent defence and some penetrating attacks by both sides. After conceding Caldy’s first score, a period of sustained forward pressure brought Amy Johnson agonisingly close to scoring but she was unable to force her way over the line. In support, Mollie Latham was able to take advantage of the position that Amy had established and charged over for the score. Nieve Jones converted to bring the score to 12-5. From the restart, Jordan Morris made good progress along the right wing back into the Caldy half before being forced into touch. The momentum was regained when Sandbach stole the lineout and the backs were able to stretch the Caldy defence. A neat offload by Amy Lees freed Hannah to touch down in the same place as her first try.

A period of excellent running rugby by both teams followed, matched by solid defence. Sandbach had the territory advantage however before a knock on looked as if it would bring some relief to Caldy deep in their 22. Caldy duly won the scrum, but Nieve had targeted their inside centre and that pressure forced the ball free for Jordan to pick up and score under the posts.

Caldy continued to press however and were unlucky not to breach Sandbach’s defence with Amber Smith doing well to hold up an attack close to her line. From the resulting loose ball, Sandbach were able to clear and the battle continued between the 10m lines. Whenever the game became tight, Jess Gurney, drafted in to the front row for this game, showed her utility player experience well, knowing when to lend support to the forwards and when to step into the back line. This streetwise approach allowed Sandbach to turn round with a deserved 22-5 lead.

The second half started as the first had finished with the forwards working hard to establish a platform for their backs. The Sandbach forwards were well aware of the danger that their backs posed, and this was well demonstrated by Katie Morten who split the Caldy defence with a super run from the 10m line to score the first try of the second half. Jordan converted to put Sandbach in control at 29-5.

Harriet thought that she had got the second try of the half after some strong aggressive running by Alyx Maw had taken Sandbach back into the Caldy half. Unfortunately she was quite rightly brought back for a knock on, just inside the Caldy 22, five metres in from the right touchline. The scrum caused some problems for the front rows, leading to physio treatment for hooker Megan Pancutt. As a result, the teams were given the option to play uncontested scrums. Megan showed great character by not only turning that offer down, but hooking to win the ball against the head. The reward was a flowing move across the pitch to Hannah on the left wing who touched down. From well wide of the posts, Nieve converted impressively to take the score to 36-5. Some excellent work along the opposite flank saw Harriet and Amber exchanging passes to take the ball back deep into Caldy’s half. As the move broke down, the forwards were aggressive in their support, allowing Jordan to make the decisive run in for her second try.

Caldy continued to push and were rewarded when the ball was spilled in midfield and they were quick to work the advantage, running in from half way to double their points tally. Sandbach were clearly unhappy with their lapse and the backs took it upon themselves to make amends with yet another flowing move across the pitch leaving Hannah with some work to do against a quickly regrouping defence before scoring her fourth try of the day in the corner.

Caldy were determined to have the last word, and after a period of pressure around Sandbach’s 22, they almost made the telling break before being adjudged to have been held up on the line. From the scrum five, a well worked interchange resulted in deserved try, converted to close the scoring at 46-17 to Sandbach.

Special mention should be given to Sandbach players Rachel Graham and Natalie Pearson who were loaned to Caldy for the afternoon. Caldy’s coach was rightly full of praise for both their commitment and performance against their team mates. Their willingness to play for their opponents really helped to make the match an enjoyable contest for all the players.
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November 1st Northwich/Sandbach/Manchester vs Vale of Lune/Kirkby Lonsdale (Away) Won 62-26

Sting in the Tail by Vale

A spirited last quarter saw Vale of Lune/Kirby Lonsdale score three unanswered tries against the new North West Merit League leaders. The hard work had certainly been done beforehand though, and Sandbach can be pleased with such a good result from a match played in very difficult weather conditions.

Sandbach/Northwich/Manchester came out of the starting blocks very quickly with Nieve Jones converting a quick try by Jordan Morris who dived over the line on Sandbach’s first attack from their kick off. Vale were able to organise themselves better when Sandbach attacked again from the restart and resisted a strong drive from the attacking forwards in their own 22. When Sandbach were awarded an attacking scrum for a knock on, the experience of Jordan who spotted that there was no one at home on the blind side gave her an unopposed second try. Again the score was converted, this time by Rachel Graham.

The pressure from the Sandbach forwards was surely going to bring the pack a deserved try but when the inevitable happened and the pack drove a good 10 metres to reach the line, it was Amy Lees who had added her support from the three-quarters to claim the “forwards” try. From the restart, Rachel collected the ball cleanly and a great run up the right wing resulted in her first try of the match to bring the score to 26-0. Despite the rain and wind, Sandbach were not persuaded to simply grind out a win up front, and a quick ball from the platform provided by the forwards was gratefully collected by Katie Morten (voted Player of the Match) who looped around her opposite numbers and sprinted down the left wing to touch down, converted again by Rachel. Rachel, who was awarded the coaches’ Player of the Match, had probably her best game and used her strength and speed to add to her already profitable kicking duties by driving through the Vale defence for her scecond try, duly converting that to make the score 40-0 at half time.

As in the first half, Jordan was the first player to get on the scoreboard in the second, capitalising on some skilful ball handling by the Sandbach girls with the backs linking well with the forwards. In fact, it was Amber Smith who almost broke the defence after joining the back line but Jordan’s support work had left her well placed to claim the points. Sandbach had sportingly loaned Vale two players for the first half in Amber and Hannah Johnson. Hannah had obviously missed the good ball that she is used to from her regular team mates and soon grabbed her first try as if to announce her return to the side. With the visitors now 50 points ahead, victory was practically assured. The Vale girls showed tremendous spirit throughout however and their first score was greeted with the appropriate celebrations. A quickly taken tap penalty had put them in a strong attacking position and the Vale forwards were well up for the challenge and drove over for a well earned score.

It was perhaps a result of the weather that the match started to close down at this point into a forwards battle. If ever that happens, then Sandbach usually have the players to cope as Thea Breau proved when she fought her way over the line in a quick response to Vale’s first score. Jordan hit the conversion attempt against the crossbar but at 55-7, Sandbach appeared to have restored order. If Thea’s first try owed a lot to her own determination, her second try was for all the forwards as Alyx Maw and Natalie Pearson in particular combined to force the Vale defenders backwards before Thea peeled off the maul to touch down for what turned out to be Sandbach’s last score, converted by Nieve.

Sandbach continued to supplement Vale’s team with loaned players, and for the last quarter, Vale had the benefit of the free-scoring Jordan and Sandbach’s forward of the day in Thea. Unfortunately for Sandbach, the platform that Jordan provided for the Vale backs and the momentum that Thea gave to their forwards, revitalised the home side at the same time as Sandbach seemed to be looking forward to their showers!

The first try from the new look Vale came after a succession of penalties, which Jordan took advantage of by some quick taps advancing Vale into the Sandbach 22. With the Sandbach defence in disarray, Vale’s second try was scored under the posts.

Sandbach lost their shape after that disappointment (or Vale found theirs maybe?) and in the last five minutes the tired Sandbach defence were unable to prevent the reinvigorated Vale of Lune girls from gaining a fairer reflection of their efforts on the scoreboard. Two more converted tries for Vale of Lune closed the game at 62-26 to Sandbach. Sandbach played well as a team throughout, adjusting their play to suit the poor weather conditions but playing with flair when possible. The unsettling of the team in order to quite fairly balance the numbers was justified by an enjoyable and competitive match.

Such a result was well deserved by the hosts who fielded a number of relatively inexperienced players. Their abilities clearly matched their determination however once they were able to secure good possession. Meanwhile Sandbach sit proudly at the top of the table after two away games.
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