U14 Girls Match Reports 2006-7

September 10th Sandbach/Northwich vs Tyldesley Lost 8 tries to 2

The U14’s played a team from Tyldesely and played very bravely as it was the first time they had played together, in fact for two girls this was their first full contact match ever. The girls gave a very competent performance with good forward play from Amy Johnson and Katy McEvoy and typical darting runs from Nieve Jones. Amy and Nieve crossed the line for two tries but Tyldesley’s had more experience and some tactical kicking and more aggression in the loose play meant that they were victors by 8 tries to 2.

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November 19th Sandbach/Northwich vs Oswestry/Telford Won 40-5

The combined Northwich-Sandbach team celebrated their first win of the season with eight tries against a combined Oswestry & Telford team down at the Telford Hornets rugby club. Having been close to winning on their last outings Northwich were keen to prove a point and despite having to lend two of their forwards to the under strength opposition were soon on the score sheet with a classic centre field break from fly half Nieve Jones who then had to evade tacklers for half of the pitch to score. Oswestry forwards aided by the loaned players give Northwich trouble up front but thanks to great efforts by Amy Johnson, Stephanie Farrar and Aby Wardle they won enough possession to let the backs have the ball and run at the Oswestry backs. Seven tries followed from excellent breaks and then good support play, with tries from Amy Lees, Lily Thorp, Jess Gurney, Amy Johnson, Roxanne Lawton & Olivia Osbourne. In the second half Oswestry were undeterred and continued to fight back but excellent defence from Amy Lees and Jess Gurney in midfield made sure no Oswestry player was going to score. It was only in the second half that Oswestry scored courtesy of Nieve Jones, lent to them in the second half. Special mention go to Sandbach players, Charlotte Chambers and Katy McEvoy who helped out the Oswestry team, well done girls.
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November 26th National Cup First Rounds vs Worcester, Stourbridge/Malvern & Tyldesley

Just 9 points separated the combined Northwich/Sandbach team from progressing to the next round of the National Cup at Sandbach on Sunday.

Playing the best rugby of their lives the Northwich girls played their hearts out and deserved to win the tournament but lost narrowly to eventual winners Worcester and Tyldesley to finish third place.

Northwich were out of the blocks immediately against favourites Worcester with a large squad, and thanks to continuous pressure had Worcester on the ropes for most of the match. A classic direct run at the rattled defence let Nieve Jones of Northwich in for her first try of the day. Unfortunately this wasn’t converted but Northwich continued to push for a second. Time and time the Worcester defence held out and a break out in the closing minutes and a penalty decision by the referre gave Worcester a chance in the Northwich half. Northwich lost their concentration for a moment which let Worcester score. The conversion went over and then the whistle went for a very narrow win for Worcester, the closest margin all day for them.

Moral victors in the first game, Northwich were fired up for their first ever game against Malvern/Stourbridge. It was hard work up front for Northwich forwards but sterling work by Amy Johnson and Katy McEvoy won enough ball for Northwich to get clear runs against the weaker Malvern back line. Tries from Amy Johnson, Nieve Jones and Amy Lees brought the final score to 37-0. Won 1 lost 1 with one to play.

The last match was then against old Lancashire rivals Tyldesley. Tyldesley had beaten Northwich twice already this season so there were scores to be settled. The sky was getting darker as the two rivals had a fierce forward battle, and with a try saving tackle from Amy Lees, things were tense and all the girls were getting tired. Maul after maul started to seep away the strenght of the Northwich forwards who just couldn’t release their more talented backs. However it was Northwich who scored first with push over try from Nieve Jones which she then converted 7-0. Northwich were nearly home and dry. A great break from the backs nearly let in Northwich’s Livvy Osbourne but as she tried to ground the ball for a try a Tyldesey player pushed the ball out of her hands, no try as the half time whistle blew. Just 12 minutes to go. Tyldesley however got a second wind and came back stronger in the second half. Their scrum half just managed to get some space and raced off for a try which was converted. Northwich pulled themselves together and tried to find the effort to hold out but were getting tired and despite some fantastic tackling couldn’t catch the scrum half again on a piercing run down the wing for the winning try.

Marvelous rugby all afternoon, a pleasure to watch, drama to the end.
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November 19th Sandbach/Northwich vs Tyldesely/Waterloo Lost 26-24

Northwich played their regional rivals Tyldesley on Sunday at Waterloo Rugby club. Northwich have already played Tyldesley in 3 encounters this season and from the start put pressure on the Tyldesley defence. With only a few minutes gone and Amy Johnson made a classic thundering run from loose play and charged over the line to score. This unsettled the Tyldesley team who were used to playing at the other end of the ground, and soon after more forward play allowed Amy Johnson to score two more tries. After getting used to the kicking tee Nieve Jones managed to put over only one of the three possible conversions but this looked like a handsome lead.

However Tyldesely were not finished and a classic slip on concentration let their scrum half Laura Riches in for a try at the end of the first half.

Northwich failed to get out of the blocks in the second half and missed tackles to let Tyldesley draw level and score three tries. However in the last few minutes sustained pressure allowed Amy Johnson in for her fourth try, which was duly converted by Nieve Jones. Unfortunately not enough time for a further score and a narrow loss to a single conversion.

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