Bracknell Girls U16's still have everything to play for following a crucial away victory against Trojans

In a thrilling Mother's Day encounter against Trojans, Bracknell Girls U16's exhibited resilience and determination, emerging victorious in a closely contested match.

Despite a strong start from Bracknell, Trojans capitalized on an early opportunity to score points and took the lead (7-0). Bracknell responded with a try from Amelia, narrowing the score to 7-5.

What followed was a period of territorial advantage and attacking onslaught from Trojans. Despite being on the back foot for what seemed like an age, Bracknell defended wave after wave of attack with tackles coming in from across the team. Trojans managed to score a few more points, but Bracknell remained determined to stage a comeback at 19-5 down.

Belief grew in the second quarter, first from a quick tap and go under the posts from Molly Ca and then with a three-quarters pitch run, again from Molly Ca, unselfishly passed to Eva to finish off after a great supporting run. This tied the score at 19-19 as we went into halftime. This was at least what Bracknell deserved at the break, after solid defence, scrum dominance, impressive rucking, fast ball, and minimal handling errors across the team.

Trojans had a good start to the second half, hitting back with a quick tap and go of their own (24-19).

What followed was perhaps Bracknell’s best passage of play this season, with forwards and backs working cohesively to turn the screws on Trojans. A dominant scrum and run from Eva set Amelia up for her second under the posts (24-26).

Good rucking won Bracknell the put-in from the resulting scrum, a kick to touch found their 22, and Bracknell stole the ball from the resulting lineout. Evie was over the line but the ball was held up. Territorial advantage in their favour, it was only a matter of time before Bracknell found a way through, and their efforts were rewarded when Amelia touched down for her hat trick after impact players, Penny, and Roisin, had hit a ruck hard and secured the ball for Bracknell (24-31).

Molly Ca then added to the tally with her second under the posts, making the score 24-38. Credit to the 13 Trojans for they weren’t done yet. The restart went to touch; they stole the Bracknell ball in the lineout, secured and won a scrum on Bracknell’s 22, and scored in the corner (29-38).

Another Trojans try got them back to within a score of Bracknell (34-38). They continued to press for the win in this enthralling encounter. Bracknell defended wave after wave of attack before getting a 22 dropout and penalty kick to touch deep inside Trojans' 22, relieving the pressure. Amelia scored her fourth of the afternoon, making it 34-45. In a nail-biting climax, not helped by a final Trojans try, Bracknell somehow held on until the final whistle, emerging victorious with a scoreline of 41-45.

Amidst the jubilation of victory, the euphoric Bracknell team rushed to the dugout to check-in on those who had contributed to their success but left the pitch with knocks during the match. In another eventful afternoon, our dedicated, one-man medical team had been kept busy dealing with injuries to Jess, Katy, and Georgia (Katy with a broken collarbone, Georgia with a knock to her ribs/shoulder, and Jess with a knocked knee no longer able to support her weight).

Molly Ca's outstanding performance earned her the opponents' choice for the Bracknell player of the match, showcasing her leadership and impact on the field. Additionally, while acknowledging the entire Bracknell team and in particular key contributions from Emily, Lily, Georgia, and Katy, the Bracknell coaching team praised Amelia and Eva for their consistent performance throughout the match, both contributing significantly to Bracknell's success.

In the pre-match briefing, the Bracknell coaches had emphasized the importance of rucking and playing for each other against a team as strong as Trojans. The Bracknell girls did exactly that, throwing everything they had into the game, and the score took care of itself. It was a complete team effort that Bracknell should be proud of and reflect back on as they seek a bonus point win in the pool decider against Havant on Sunday week and a place in the grand final vs Basingstoke on 21st April.

Once again, this young Bracknell team continues to surprise and exceed expectations, showing great character and determination, proving their ability to overcome adversity and secure important victories. This win serves as a testament to their and the coaching team’s hard work and this group of girls' dedication to the sport and each other. What an advert for rugby! Go Bracknell!

To any aspiring female rugby players, Bracknell U16 Girls extend 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, Ceri, Elizabeth, Elle, Emily, Eva, Evie, Georgia, Isla, Jess, Katy, Lily, Molly Ca, Molly Cu, Penny, Róisín, Zara

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