Bucks County Senior Women

Rocky Clarke MBE Buckinghamshire Coach said “It’s a beautiful day for a game of rugby”, and it was so true, the sun was shining and the backs, and maybe secretly some of the forwards, were excited about a fast paced game of rugby on Maidenheads 4G pitch.

The game kicked off with Buckinghamshire kicking to Berkshire giving Berkshire the opportunity for the first chance to go on the attack. As expected Berkshire was not going to let Buckinghamshire ladies come to Maidenhead and have an easy win. Berkshire forwards carried strongly into contact and for the first five minutes looked like a team ready to take this game to Buckinghamshire. A ball handling error by Berks gave possession to Buckinghamshire inside Berkshires own half and after some strong running by Buckinghamshire 7 Emma Taylor the ball found its way into the hands of prop Becky Woodgates. With meters to the try line even three Berkshire players were not going to stop her crossing the try line to give Buckinghamshire ladies and their coaches the start they wanted after just 8 minutes. The difficult conversion was missed. Score was 0-5 Buckinghamshire.

Berkshire were not going to let Buckinghamshire have an easy time of it, and were on the attack from the kick-off. A knock on by Buckinghamshire resulted in the first scrum of the game. Berkshire won their scrum and kicked the ball out for a lineout. Buckinghamshire won the lineout and went on the attack again with some great running from Emma Taylor.

She was dispossessed in contact resulting in a great attacking run from Berkshire big strong centre who made some great ground with Buckinghamshire falling off their tackles. Finally taken to ground, Buckinghamshire number 9 Nicki Gross made a great steal and Buckinghamshire were once more are on the attack, however couldn’t capitalise on this as poor ball handling resulted in yet another knock on and scrum to Berkshire. A Buckinghamshire win against the head but strong Berkshire defence cause yet another knock on by Buckinghamshire allowing Berkshire back on the attack. A big crunching tackle from Buckinghamshire wing Charlotte Gallop on the Berkshire centre and a great steal from Rachael Taylor sees Buckinghamshire put together some great phases of play between both backs and forwards. Once the ball found its way into the hands of Buckinghamshire number 12 Lauren Delany with space in front of her there was only going to be one result, a try, under the posts and well deserved after some great attacking play from Buckinghamshire. With the conversion complete it left the score 0-12 to Buckinghamshire.

Things were about to get even worse for Berkshire almost from the kick off when a great catch and pass from Nicki Gross to Lauren Delany saw the 12 run through almost the entire Berkshire team untouched to score her second and Buckinghamshire's third try of the first half. With another conversion complete by Rachel Taylor Photo.

This left the score 0-19 to Buckinghamshire and Berkshire facing a very tough second half battle to try to get back into this game.

Berkshire kicked off the second half to Buckinghamshire allowing the early attack to come from the visitors. Buckinghamshire centres linked well with great runs from both. Buckinghamshire 13 Alena Maksimuk made a break down the wing only to be pushed into touch resulting in a lineout for Berkshire well inside their own half. Berkshire went for the short line out knocked on by Buckinghamshire giving the scrum to Berkshire. Berkshire win the scrum and kick to clear their lines but only give the ball back to Buckinghamshire who come on the attack again but again the ball is knocked on. Buckinghamshire win the scrum against the head with the Buckinghamshire 8 Vicki Boorman picking from the base of the scrum, drawing players and passing to the Buckinghamshire scrum half who runs in in the corner for try number four for Buckinghamshire. The game, even with only 6 minutes of the second half played is beyond reach of Berkshire. Another difficult conversion is missed but still the score is 0-24 to Buckinghamshire.

From the kick off Buckinghamshire attack with a big carry from prop Grace McShane but she is eventually held up to give Berkshire a scrum just outside the Buckinghamshire half. Berkshire wins the scrum and come on the attack which results in a penalty for a high tackle from prop Kirsty Kay. Berkshire kick for the line and win their line out only to see their attacking position lost with a knock on from their centre. Buckinghamshire go on the attack again with the referee playing advantage to Buckinghamshire for the knock on, an amazing run from prop Kirsty Kay takes Buckinghamshire deep into Berkshire half but this attack is short lived as the ball is once more lost forward in the tackle. Buckinghamshire, however, win the scrum against the head and some quick hands from the Buckinghamshire scrum half gifts an easy try and a hat trick for the day to Buckinghamshire number 12 Lauren Delany in the corner. Another difficult conversion for the Buckinghamshire 10 is missed but with the score now 0-29 to the visitors this game is pretty much over as a competition.

As the coaches start to empty their benches the game starts to break up a little but there is still plenty of time left on the clock for Berkshire to get some scores on the board. Berkshire were still up for a fight and after a knock on from Buckinghamshire Berkshire win the resulting scrum, a high tackle from Buckinghamshire number 10 Rachael Taylor results in a penalty for Berkshire deep inside the Buckinghamshire half. Berkshire go for the line out which they win and set up an attack on the Buckinghamshire try line. This is Berkshires best spell of the game and even some determined Buckinghamshire defensive work can’t stop Berkshire from getting over the line to score their first try of the game. Conversion missed it leaves the score 5-29 to Buckinghamshire. The game kicks off again with a great kick by Rachael Taylor sending the Berkshire team running backwards trying to retrieve the ball. Possession for the remainder of the game swings back and over between the sides with a lot of ball handling errors. Buckinghamshire have some great attacking moments with great runs from flanker Jenni Balmer who links well with wing Max Tribe only to be pushed out into touch. Despite all their possession and attacking ability Buckinghamshire could not get over the try line for another score nor could Berkshire despite their best efforts so the game finished 5-29 to Buckinghamshire Ladies, a well-deserved win!