Match reports.
When we arrived at the club we had several injuries and people
with work commitments. This meant that we had 12 players. Luckily when Tewkesbury
turned up with 11 it meant we could have a rolling sub.
After a wet start to the match Stafford put the pressure on
Tewkesbury. They couldn’t catch the ball and Stafford stole the ball. They
managed to get over the try line but the ref said the ball was put in the dead
ball zone so it didn’t count. So then there was a scrum on Tewkesbury’s 22
line. Tewkesbury won the scrum but shortly lost the ball to Stafford who scored
the try under the posts. This was then converted putting Stafford ahead. Stafford
managed to keep their lead for about ten minutes. Tewkesbury then scored a try.
They tried to convert it but it bounced off the bars.
Stafford kicked off and put Tewkesbury under pressure again.
Stafford took the ball and took it into a ruck but lost it as Tewkesbury rucked
over. They got the ball out and passed it to their fastest player who got
through Stafford’s defence and scored a try. They managed to convert it. There
was a downpour of rain but that didn’t dampen Stafford’s spirits.
Near enough straight away Stafford put the pressure on and
stole the ball out of a maul and score another try. Unfortunately they didn’t
manage to convert it.
There was a lot of good play from both teams. Stafford managed
to score another try but didn’t manage to convert. Stafford were making some
great tackles. Unfortunately Tewkesbury managed to use their forwards to push
their player over the try line.
Stafford put up some good defence in the first half. Score at
half time 17-17.
Something in Stafford woke up 2nd half. They put
the pressure on, made some great tackles. Counter rucked over Tewkesbury’s
players and stole the ball.
Stafford had a new spring in their step and started believing
in themselves. They were stealing the ball in rucks, they were passing the ball
as they were about to be tackled. They saw gaps in Tewkesbury’s defence and
started running through them.
Before long Stafford had pulled ahead with another try and
conversion.
It seemed that Stafford were working as a team and all their
efforts were paying off.
The 2nd half Stafford had the territory and
possession. Tewkesbury tried to defend Stafford but they kept leaving gaps in
their defence and Stafford ran through. Stafford scored another try but were
unable to convert it.
There was a good 15 minutes where both teams were defending
really well although Stafford were in Tewkesbury’s half.
Stafford then worked together and broke through Tewkesbury’s
defence and scored another try.
With 10 minutes left to play it seemed like Tewkesbury were
trying everyway possible to try and defend but were running out of steam.
Stafford
took advantage of Tewkesbury’s tiredness and scored 2
more tries and 2 more conversions.
The final score Stafford 48- Tewkesbury 17.
Well done to
Zoe Trimm for
getting dame of the game.
6th
February, 2011
Due
to injuries and work, Stafford Ladies had 14 players turn
up for the match. After some confusion Stafford Ladies had to change strip as
the other teams strip was very similar. So Stafford played in the red strip.
The
match started off with Stafford Ladies kicking off. Kate
Kicked off. The ball went over the ten meter line and into a gap as Hucclecote
didn’t catch it straight away. This gave Stafford chance to get up to
Hucclecote. As Stafford went up they left a gap in their defence and Hucclecote
managed to get through and score the first try of the match.
After
composing themselves Stafford kick off again and put in
some good tackles. Hucclecote then do some quick balls, got the ball to the
winger and scored their second try and then they managed to convert it.
Stafford did really hard to try and chase the ball carrier.
After
some words of advice from the coaches under the goal
posts whilst waiting for Hucclecote to convert their second try Stafford came
back with their heads held high and with some more confidence. Kate Kicks off.
Hucclecote catch it but with Stafford up in their faces putting pressure on and
making some great tackles Hucclecote lose the ball. Stafford pass the ball
through the hands, it goes to the winger who breaks through Hucclecotes
defence, makes a fantastic run and scores Stafford’s first try. Zoe steps up to
convert it but unfortunately misses.
Hucclecote
kicks off, it went straight into arms of the number
8 who flicked it back to one of the flankers who ran straight through the
Hucclecote defence with a couple of the forwards chasing for support. The
flanker makes another spectacular run and scores Stafford’s second try. Zoe
steps up to try and convert the try but unfortunately misses again.
With
the scores near enough even Stafford have a new
confidence about themselves. They started giving Hucclecote pressure and they
started making some mistakes. The first scrum was called and it was Stafford’s
put in. They win the ball. Then somehow Hucclecote win the ball back and they
gain territory. Several rucks are formed but Stafford give away penalties
because they went into the rucks from the side. One of the Penalties that
Stafford gave away was 5 meters from Stafford’s try line. Hucclecote try and
run the ball over the line but Stafford’s defence held them up for a few
minutes until they got the ball to their backs that caused an overlap and
scored over the try line but they didn’t manage to convert it.
Stafford
manage to have a great defence and stop Hucclecote
from scoring for 10 minutes.
Just before half time, after many scrums and a few line outs
Hucclecote manage to get through Stafford’s defence and score their 4th
try. So the score at half time stood 10 – 22.
After
some more team talk from the coaches at half time,
Stafford still had their confidence to fight back.
The match restarted with Hucclecote kicking off. Stafford
caught the ball and managed to gain territory. The team members who have played
only a couple of games found the confidence to run the ball forward a little
bit. Stafford were starting to steel the balls in rucks. Hucclecote managed to
steel the ball back and ran towards the try line. They eventually scored their
5th try and converted it.
Stafford
didn’t lose heart. They kept coming back with more. Stafford
then managed to keep Hucclecote in their half and in their twenty two meter for
most of the second half. They were working well together in defence and
attacking. Then there was a slight accident where one person from each team
head butted each other, one at the front of the head and one at the back. The
one at the front of the head had to go off with concussion. So then Stafford
were down one player. So Hucclecote had to lose one player. When Stafford lose
a player they lost a little bit of their confidence. When this happened
Hucclecote broke through the defence twice and scored 2 tries and 1 conversion.
Then Stafford gave away a penalty which Hucclecote kicked into touch. This was
then the end of the game. Final score Stafford 10, Hucclecote 41.
Well done
to Zoe Trimm for
getting Back of the match and Tess Hibbs for getting forward of the match. Also
a big well done to all the girls, you all played really well. You should all be
very proud of yourselves.
16th January, 2011
After turning up on a dull Sunday afternoon, we went over to
midgy corner to warm up.
The match started with Stafford kicking off. Stafford kicked
off and Keresley couldn’t catch the ball at first which gave Stafford the
chance to run up to them and put pressure on. As soon as Keresley went for the
ball they knocked the ball on. The first scrum was called and it was Stafford’s
put in. Stafford win it even though Keresley have the stronger scrum. Stafford
manage to get the ball out to the backs who started running forward. Keresley
made some great tackles and won the ball. Stafford started to make some great tackles.
10 minutes went past without anyone scoring. After a couple of more scrums and
a lineout Keresley managed to get an overlap by passing down the hands and they
score their first try. Unfortunately they couldn’t convert it. So Stafford Kick
back off to Keresley. Keresley manage to catch the ball when the ball was
kicked but Stafford kept the pressure on.
In one of the rucks, Stafford manage to win the ball back.
With the ball back in Stafford’s hands they managed to get the ball to the
backs who started running towards Keresley’s try line. Zoe made a fantastic run
with some good support from Ruth. Some of the other girls managed to get over
the ruck and keep the ball alive. Unfortunately they managed to get over the
try line but the ball was held up.
After this close encounter of Keresley’s try line, they
started to make a few more mistakes. With this Stafford used it to their
advantage. They spent a good 15 minutes in Keresley’s half.
Stafford managed to push Keresley into touch and got a line
out. Keresley win it. They then do a very big driving maul up the pitch.
Stafford ladies had to keep coming out and going back in to try and defend the
maul. Then Keresley managed to get the ball to the backs who did some fancy
footwork and got past Stafford’s defence. This time they got the conversion.
This took the score to 12-0. Stafford Kick off again. They start running after
the kick off. This put Keresley ladies under pressure. Stafford ladies made
some more great tackles. One of the tackles made by Stafford, The Stafford
player held onto the Keresley player’s leg. This player then went to stamp on
the Stafford player in front of the referee and got yellow carded just before
half time. When Keresley went down to 14 women they managed to cause another
over lap and get past Stafford’s defence taking the score to 17-0. With another
few minutes play Stafford manage to keep the score at 17-0 at half time.
Second half didn’t start off to good for Stafford. Keresley
kicked off, nobody managed to get hold of the ball and Keresley ran up after
the ball and somehow managed to get hold of the ball and score within the first
few minutes of the second half. Stafford then kicked the ball back into play.
Keresley caught it and kicked it straight back towards Stafford’s try line.
Stafford managed to keep the ball and run it down the pitch to the half way
line until Keresley got them into touch. They got a line out. They won every
line out.
After another 15 minutes, there were some several more scrums
which were becoming more dangerous with the floor being slippery and with some
substitutes made by Stafford the scrums kept collapsing. There were also some
penalties that were taken and a few line outs.
Keresley managed to gain ground but Stafford defended well.
Keresley started another maul but Stafford managed to win back the ball.
Stafford was just about to get the ball out to the backs but Keresley managed
to push one of Stafford’s players over the line and score just by the posts.
They then managed to convert the try.
With 10 minutes to go, the scrums went uncontested which
Stafford had a lot put ins and won every time. They tried to get to the backs
to try and gain territory but Keresley’s defence was good. Keresley managed to
score one more time before the end of the match. The Final score 34-0.
Well done to Alice Swan (Irish) and Jo King for getting Dame
of the game.
31st October, 2010
After arriving
at our club ready to travel to Hucclecote, we have been told by the captain that due to injuries and sickness we were down
4 players but gained another player. So we get into cars and travel to Hucclecote. We arrive at Hucclecote with 14 players.
We started
the game with 14 players. Hucclecote kicked off, the ball bounced and got knocked on. The first scrum was called. As we were
waiting for a forward to arrive, we dropped the number 8. We followed the commands of the referee and Stafford found that
they had the stronger scrum. Stafford pushed quite hard. The referee blew his whistle and reset the scrum. The scrum was reset
with Hucclecotes put in. They won the ball, got the ball out at the back of the scrum and then passed it straight down the
line to their winger who side stepped Stafford and scored the first try in the corner. They were unable to convert it.
Stafford
kicked off after the try. They chased the ball and put Hucclecote under pressure. They started making some mistakes. Stafford
took advantage of the mistakes and found themselves in Hucclecotes 22. Stafford took great defence and found themselves in
Hucclecotes half for a good ten minutes. Stafford was making ground and they passed the ball down the line until one of Hucclecotes
players intercepted the ball and made a run for it towards the try line. They ran all the way to score the second try. Again
they didn't manage to convert it.
After a few more minutes of scrums, rucks and mauls Hucclecote
manage to break Stafford's defence once more to score their 3rd try. After 15 minutes the score stands at 15-0. Just after
Hucclecote had scored their 3rd try, Stafford's 15th player arrived so we played the full 15.
For the next 10 minutes Stafford
manage to keep Hucclecote from scoring. They made some great tackles and they stole the ball a few times. There was a time
when Stafford made a ruck and they came around and became offside. Stafford get a penalty. The hooker runs it with some support
Stafford made ground.
They soon lost the ground they had gained as Hucclecote drove over the ruck and
got the ball back. Stafford missed some tackles and Hucclecote managed to score again.
Stafford seemed to have lost
focus just before half time and Hucclecote managed to score again 2 minutes after the last time they scored.
The score
at half time stood 25-0.
Second half Stafford kicked off. They follow the ball and immediately
put pressure on them. They started making big mistakes which gave Stafford penalties which they kept running in as it was
putting them under pressure.
Stafford knocked the ball on and another scrum was called. Stafford
won the scrum from their put in and managed to start a great run from Kate Gallow who nearly scored but got tackled.
They lost
the ball and Hucclecote started running towards the line. During that time the captain got caught in the face with a forearm
of one of Hucclecotes players. Time got stopped whilst the coaches and referee checked on the captain. Captain had to go off
with a blood injury to get cleaned up. When we were a player short Hucclecote managed to score 2 more tries.
Stafford's
number 12 started making ground again. Then Hucclecote made a high tackle which gave Stafford a penalty. The hooker took it
in again, passed the ball just before she got tackled but as she got tackled her knee twisted so she had to come off. Stafford
with 2 players down Stafford manage to work together and get over rucks and keep going after the legs for tackles. Whilst
Stafford were 2 players down, Stafford managed to get a penalty and went for goal. Unfortunately they missed.
Hucclecote
scored 2 more tries and converted them.
The final score 56-0.
Despite the score, the rugby
that was played from both teams was really good.
Well done Hucclecote and well done to all the girls who played
for Stafford. You did us proud.
Well done Tess, Esther and Fizz for getting players of the match.
10th October, 2010
After sorting players into cars to travel to Tewkesbury, we arrived to be told that we would only be playing 11 players.
so we Re-arranged
our players and started playing.
Stafford started the match by kicking off. They immediately put Tewkesbury
under pressure because they knocked the ball forward and the first scrum was called. Stafford put in but lost possession.
Tewkesbury started gaining territory. Stafford managed to defend really well and won the ball back.
After some nice passes down
the line and some good looping Stafford gained the territory they lost. One of the passes was knocked on so another scrum
was called. Tewkesbury wheeled the scrum, passed out to their winger who managed to get past Stafford's defence to score the
first try in the corner. They then were unsuccessful in converting it.
Stafford then restarted the
match and it went straight to the forwards. They started moving out towards the touch line and were soon bundled into touch.
Stafford threw in but lost it.
After some more scrums and more line outs, Stafford pick up a loose
ball and gain territory with good support. Then a ruck collapses 5 metres from Tewkesbury's try line. So a scrum is called.
Stafford win the scrum and the number 8 Tess Hibbs picks up the ball and runs over the line, unfortunately the ball gets dropped
instead of placed so no try is awarded.
Then the referee called for a restart on the 22. Tewkesbury
kick it into touch to gain territory. Stafford throw in and lose it, to which Tewkesbury used it to their advantage and gained
territory. They gained enough territory to end up on the 5 metre line of Stafford. They did a forward pass and a scrum was
called. Tewkesbury wheeled the scrum and scored in the opposite corner. Again they were unlucky in converting their try.
After Tewkesbury
had scored 2 tries in the first quarter Stafford fought back. Stafford changed their tactics for the line outs and started
winning all their line outs. Another 20 minutes had gone and it was time for half time.
Second half started with Tewkesbury
kicking off and it landed straight into the arms of the hooker who immediately ran forwards with the ball. She passed it just
before she got tackled as the support from the other team members was good. The backs passed the ball down the line until
it got to Vicki who kicked the ball to get territory. This worked and Tewkesbury was put under pressure again. They won the
ball back in a ruck. As they were going forward they started using palm offs, unfortunately they did them wrong and caught
a couple of Stafford ladies in the wrong places.
Half way through the second half, Stafford started
making silly mistakes and gave away penalties. For these Tewkesbury kicked the ball into touch for territory and then they
had line outs.
For the last 50/60 minutes Stafford worked really hard to stop Tewkesbury from
scoring again. The final score stood at 10-0.
We would also like to say well done to all the
new girls who took part in the match because for some of them it was their first rugby match. You played really well and the
team will build and become a stronger unit.
22nd August, 2010
After some unfortunate injuries for Stafford Ladies over the last week, we became a few players short for our first
friendly game of the new season against Derby Ladies. Stafford managed to loan players from Eccleshall to help make a full
squad.
We
arrived at Derby on a hot Sunday afternoon. It was agreed with the referee and Derby Ladies that we were going to play 4 quaters,
20 minutes each quater.
The
match began with Derby taking the lead within the first 5 minutes. Shortly after Stafford had scored a try, which made the
scores even until Rachael scored with the conversion putting Stafford in the lead by 2 points. Within a few more minutes Stafford
scored again followed by a 2nd conversion. Just before the end of the first quater Derby scored but failed to convert their
try.
Stafford
go into the 2nd quater leading 14 - 10. Within the first few minutes Derby had scored again from a scrum 5 metres from Stafford's
try line. Stafford came back fighting and put Derby under pressure which caused Derby to make mistakes which enabled Stafford
to be awarded with penalties. This came in use as Rachael kicked the ball into touch allowing Stafford to gain ground up the
pitch towards Derby's try line. Stafford caught the ball in the line out and managed to support each other to score Stafford's
3rd try which was followed by a spectacular conversion.
Throughout
the play Stafford showed some great handling skills backed up with some good support play.
The
3rd quater was very evenly matched with some great play from both teams. Going into the final quater the scores were very
close meaning we had to dig deep to hold onto our lead as tries were coming from both teams. Stafford started the quater
well by scoring within the first few mintues but were unlucky to convert it. Derby responded well to this and scored a converted
try. This was a very tight match all the way through with some fantastic tries by Kate Morgan, Kate Gallow and the Eccleshall
girls Rachael and Amy. Both teams should be congratulated on an entertaining game. It could of gone either way. Eventual winners
Stafford 45 - 43 Derby.
We
would like to congratulate Sue Dawson, Caz Smith and Emily Soper for their debut match. Well done girls! We would also like
to thank the girls from Eccleshall for coming over to help us out, we really appreciate it! And finally a big thanks to Derby
girls for a great game.
Stafford
Ladies, we have begun our season with a win so lets keep up the effort for the rest of the season.
