The match started with 10 ladies on each side ready to play their heart out. As the whistle blew Bracknell Ladies kicked off with a good kick from Chloe Evans, and the pack chasing the kick through to get the first tackle. A strong defensive line allowed Bracknell Ladies to stop Old Cats making a break, until their winger outpaced Bracknell Ladies and soon got some points on the board.

Some great crash balls from Zoe Young and Amber Clark allowed yards to be made on the pitch. Hannah Taylor was controlling the ball well from the ruck with great passes out to the backs allowing them to stretch their legs. Old Cats were quick to pick up on small mistakes from Bracknell Ladies allowing them to get past the defence and over the try line again, but this didn’t dampen the girl’s sprits. The backs had to work hard with only ten players on the pitch they made big tackles and stopped the Old Cats in their tracks. The first scrum of the match was in Old Cats favour, but Zara King quickly turned the ball over allowing Leanne Smith and Paige Bayliss to show their handling skills and fast pace. The forwards then came in to support them and Bonnie Williams done a great run up the pitch with Zoe Young in tow. The ball was then turned over and Old Cats got over the try line again. A try saving tackle allowed Bracknell to have the throw in on a line out, and with Shona Webbs great jumping the ball was quickly out to the backs again, however a turnover meant the Old Cats managed to get under the post again.

Half time we saw 8 fresh legs step onto the pitch ready to come back with fighting spirit against the Old Cats Ladies, despite Bracknell Ladies not yet having any points on the board.

Esmee Sturges made a break along the side-line making great ground with Old Cats putting in a good chase, the ball was quickly recycled from the back of the ruck and Shiv powered through the Old Cats and put the ball over the try line for the first try of the match for Bracknell Ladies.

A quick penalty saw Zara King get over the try line for Bracknell Ladies, and quickly followed by Shiv Jamieson again, but sadly the ball was dropped over the line. This didn’t slow down the tempo from the Bracknell Ladies, as a scrum in their 22 allowed Hannah Sharp to get the ball from the back of a scrum and over the try line safely, with the conversion going through the posts by Esmee Sturges.

Old Cats came back with speed and tried to crash through Bracknell Ladies defensive, despite great tackles made by the girls Old Cats managed to soon break through and get another try.

Overall the game was fast paced with lots of contact, both teams played with their hearts on their sleeve and as always it’s great to see women’s rugby growing.

Final score: Old Catherhamians Ladies 58 - Bracknell Ladies 17