High Wycombe Rugby Club

U18's Cup Match against Gosford All Blacks. In order to compete in the cup competition, it is necessary to put out a team of at least 10 players. With the addition of Kate from Marlow, we managed to muster a mighty 10 but no more. In addition and due to the weather, the game was swapped onto the agp pitch at Oxford Harlequins ground. We know from previous experience that Gosford, as the only significant girl's youth section in Oxford and Oxfordshire are very strong having two backs who have been involved at England U18 level. So, to confirm: we are playing a game of rugby on a perfect pitch as wide as the Thames Estuary, with only 10 players aside against a back line that includes two England players and if we suffer a single injury, the game is forfeit. Hmm. My personal opinion is that this was our best performance of the season so far. We didn't win. However I am immensely proud of the performance for the following reasons: 1) We played the full game and no one came off. Special mention to Jess who played on after bruising her hand and having it strapped. Oxford of course subbed on their five reserves during the course of the game. 2) Our scrum shoved Oxford about magnificently all game on both put ins. 3) We tackled. Oh boy, did we tackle. I personally saw immense examples from Jess, Yasmin and Alice but to be fair all ten players put in a shift. 4) We scored 3 tries ourselves (Alice x2 and Paige) and were a whisker away from a couple more, including a great run by Ruth who was brought down by an equally great ankle tap just as she looked certain to score. We can't hide from the fact that up against a couple of backs with pace to burn and acres of space Oxford scored plenty of tries in the wide channels. And so to the score. It finished at 69-15, which many would consider a walk over, but that was not the game I watched. Proud of you all today. Hope to see you all Wednesday for the last training session before Christmas.