As Bracknell Girls U16s descended upon The Hub, the home of Eastleigh Rugby Club, for their rematch against Winchleigh U16 Girls, the morning showers had thankfully dissipated. In the previous fixture in November at Lily Hill Park, Bracknell U16 Girls had emerged victorious with a score of 33-0. Despite the scoreboard not fully reflecting it, Winchleigh showed marked improvement, pushing Bracknell to their limits in their quest for a double triumph.

Bracknell set the tone from the kick off, overcoming a formidable Winchleigh pack to seize an early lead with a try from Eva, putting them ahead 7-0. Amelia's reception at the restart provided territorial gains, but Bracknell struggled to maintain possession, leading to a flurry of scrums. Winchleigh's Number 8 attempted a crafty blindside move, only to be thwarted by Eva's last-ditch tackle. Undeterred, Winchleigh persisted and breached Bracknell's defence, narrowing the gap to 7-5.

What ensued was a gruelling exchange of ground, turnovers, and strategic kicks, with Molly Ca and Maddie showcasing their prowess with clever plays. Runs from Macy, Elizabeth, and the late addition to Bracknell's backline, Amelia, culminated in a second try for Bracknell courtesy of Amelia, extending their lead to 12-5. Facing pressure from Winchleigh's restart, Bracknell's defence stood firm, eventually wresting possession and relieving the pressure with a well-placed kick from Molly Ca. Reinvigorated, Bracknell regained control of the game, putting Winchleigh on the back foot. A potential highlight-reel moment saw Isla initiating a dazzling sequence, with Maddy's chip into space and a subsequent pass to Elizabeth, who appeared to score. However, the try was disallowed, leaving the score at 12-5. Undeterred, Bracknell surged forward, securing their third and fourth tries just before halftime through Molly Ca and Maddie, extending their lead to 24-5 at the break.

Though Winchleigh managed to capitalise on Bracknell's vulnerabilities in the first half, exploiting exposed runners to steal possession, Bracknell's renewed commitment to rucking and team support saw a marked improvement in the second period. Despite conceding twice late in the first half, Winchleigh returned with renewed determination, mirroring the relentless resilience that had troubled Bracknell earlier in the game. Macy's reception of the restart ignited a sequence of scrums, penalties, and lineouts, with both teams vying for dominance without breakthrough. Elizabeth, overcoming earlier disappointment, broke the deadlock with a crucial try, extending Bracknell's lead to 29-5. Facing pressure after failing to secure the restart, Bracknell found themselves on the back foot. However, their resilience shone through as they thwarted Winchleigh's attacking advances and swiftly turned the tide with a sixth try from Eva, converted by Molly Ca, pushing the score to 36-5.

Despite a missed penalty opportunity, awarded when Ima took a knock and could play no further part in the game, the 14 remaining squad members couldn't add further points. Winchleigh, capitalising on the numerical advantage, pressed hard and eventually secured a deserved try, followed by another in the dying moments of the game, concluding the match with a final score of 36-15.

While Bracknell emerged victorious, the game posed a significant challenge and highlighted the team's collective effort. Winchleigh proved formidable opponents, providing valuable preparation for future encounters. Molly Ca was lauded as Winchleigh's Bracknell player of the match, while Amelia earned praise from the Bracknell coaches for her exceptional rucking and adaptability in switching to the backline. Their contributions added to an already outstanding team performance. Director of Rugby, Daimon Evans, expressed satisfaction with the team's progress, particularly their willingness to implement training strategies in game situations. The future looks bright for Bracknell!

To any aspiring female rugby players, Bracknell U16 Girls extends an open invitation to join their training sessions on Wednesday nights. With a welcoming atmosphere, both players and parents are encouraged to get involved.

Written by John Irwin

Squad: Amelia, Elizabeth, Eva, Evie, Georgia, Imogen, Isla, Katy (Captain), Kirsten, Maddie, Macy, Molly Ca, Molly Cu, Penny, Róisín.

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