Sun 20 Oct 2024
Worcester U18 girls started their National Cup campaign with a home tie against newly established Kenilworth U18s. Having combined with Barkers Butts at the end of last season Kenilworth bolstered a strong squad of experience.
Thankfully the storm weather stayed away and the girls only had to put up with wet ground from the rain the day before and the strong winds.
The game started with some strong defensive play from both teams which continued for the whole half. Kenilworth were very disciplined in defence and caused several turn overs from promising attacking positions from Worcester. Likewise, Worcester were also strong in defence and from Kenilworth’s first attack caused a knock on in the corner when it looked certain that Kenilworth would score.
Worcester started to get a grip on the game and it was pleasing to watch the girls playing what was in front of them and not just sticking to practiced drills. This led to several line breaks from some delicate pop passes and some nice line breaks, however Kenilworth’s organised defence was proving hard to breakdown. In fact, the first try of the game didn’t come until approximately 20 minutes in when a slippery Worcester back managed to break free from a tackle just outside the 22 and run clear to score, with the subsequent conversion being scored.
Kenilworth used this a reset for the half and from there started to put pressure on Worcester and started moving the ball around well. If it wasn’t for another try line saving tackle Kenilworth would have scored earlier than they did.
Worcester had one more moment of magic in half before Kenilworth did get back into the game with a try. From goal line pressure Worcester centres found space on their own 5-yard line and broke away. Support from Worcester’s hooker of all people provided a pass on the half way. A pass back inside to the centre kept the move going, however some strong defending from the Kenilworth full back stopped the attack and won then a penalty.
The moment of the half had to go to Kenilworth who just before half time ran the ball from a scrum on their 5. As they approached the half way line a lovely kick over the Worcester defence found space and with 2 runners Kenilworth gathered the ball and after a tackle a nice pop was made to the supporting player who scored to make it 7-5 to Worcester at half time.
The second half carried on in much the same vein as the first with both teams defending strongly matching each other for turn overs and looking for gaps in defence’s which were hard to come by. The game took a turn in Worcester’s favour some 2/3rds of the way in. After a strong scrum and several dominate line break Worcester found themselves in Kenilworth’s 22. After a penalty some quick thinking for a tap and go lead to an overlap out wind and Worcester forwards ran over for the try.
Minutes later Worcester had their 3rd of the game, and again from a quick thinking tap and go in the 22 which gave Worcester a clean run through defenders for the try.
Kenilworth to their credit never gave up and kept pressuring but only to be denied by some solid defending and some crucial hold ups over the try line.
Worcester’s final try of the game came whilst Kenilworth were attempting to move the ball out from their try line. Worcester forwards forced an error and turned the ball over from a jackal. The ball was ran wide to the right and the score was made.
The final score was Worcester U18 girls 24 – Kenilworth U18 girls 5.
Our next fixture is against a strong Cheltenham North side away in mid-November.
