NLD U18W vs Buckinghamshire RFU

A lethargic start from NLD allowed Buckinghamshire to gather the kick off under little pressure, playing up some nice phases, setting up a single runner from the 5 metre line to run a hard line for the first score of the game giving them the 5-0 lead with three minutes played.

With the early wake up call NLD’s defence was challenged again shortly after the restart with Buckinghamshire once again playing some nice phases to progress to within a couple of metres of the NLD’s try line. A single runner once more, however, this time met with some aggressive defence meaning they were held up in goal giving the NLD a goal line dropout which was punched long and chased well by A. Bethell and A. Damudamu, securing a penalty which was kicked to touch to give the NLD women some much needed territory and space to play in. Playing off the lineout NLD set up some lovely phase play of their own, providing quick ball and narrowing the defence. Identifying this, H. Saunders whipped the ball down the back line, for K. West to run in for  NLD’s first try of the game, bringing the score to 5-5, an unfortunate deflection off the crossbar for the conversion attempt by J. Burlinson.

Buckinghamshire responded almost instantly with another unconverted try of their own a couple of minutes later, once again putting NLD on the back foot. A continuous attack from Buckinghamshire led to another visit to NLD’s try line, with Buckinghamshire putting a kick over the top of the defensive line which was dotted down by NLD in a scrambled defence for a 5m attacking scrum, which Buckinghamshire took to the blind side to run a try in using the overlap created. 15-5.

Now with the bit firmly between their teeth, NLD had to dig deep late into the first half to try to halt a well drilled Buckinghamshire side. A further trip to NLD’s try line through some more phase play came up short when another of Buckinghamshire’s single runners crossed the NLD whitewash but was held up by K. West in a last ditch effort to get between the ball and grass!

A successfully regained goal line dropout meant NLD now had the ball to start playing their own phases and set pieces with the whole team linking up to distribute the ball from one edge of the pitch to the other followed by a snipe at the base from L. McGready bringing the score to 15-10.

Buckinghamshire replied after the kick-off with a further try of their own meaning the teams ended the first half with the visitors trailing by 12 points. 22-10.

Starting the second half strong NLD’s play was halted when a Buckinghamshire injury caused a short stoppage, however, when the whistle blew once more both teams put on a spectacle in both attack and defence leading to ten minutes of almost unbroken play before A. Damudamu gathered the ball in the backfield from a stray Buckinghamshire kick, stretching her legs from NLD’s ten metre line, being supported by O. Cepelak  who carried over the try line for a converted NLD try.

The Buckinghamshire kick-off was then received by centre K. West who was able make a break from her own 5-metre line, linking with captain M. Hensley who dashed across the remaining 50 metres crossing the whitewash to bring the scores level at 22-22.

Apparently rattled by the quick succession of NLD points and strong turnout in the second half a loose pass, a couple of minutes after the restart, was intercepted by J. Burlinson who made a 60 metre sprint to give NLD the lead for the first time in the match. The score now 22-27.

Play continued once more with both sides playing some exceptional rugby, stringing together phases in the centre field. An NLD knock-on allowed Buckinghamshire to bring the scores back level after their number eight picked the ball at the base of the ruck and barrelled over for another Buckinghamshire try.

With the clock now close to being in the red both teams were fighting hard to have one last chance at scoring points, NLD capitalising first when A. Damudamu once again made a break from a loose Buckinghamshire kick, crossing in the corner to secure what would have been a last minute NLD winner, had the referee not seen that a last ditch tackle from a Buckinghamshire player had pulled a trailing foot into touch, meaning the game ended a tie, 27-27.

Speaking after the match, assistant coach Sam Scott said “the girls have worked really hard all season to integrate as a unit and string together some structured phase play. Particularly with the poor weather we have had this season, meaning we have lost both training sessions and matches, we as coaches are immensely proud of how far the girls have come and the performance the group has put in today against a physically dominant and competitive Buckinghamshire side.”

Report by Sam Scott