U15 Girls in Thriller with Newark

Sunday 13th November saw Mansfield RUFC U15 Girls host Newark RUFC in the Area RFU Cup at Eakring Road.

Compared to 7 days ago when the cold weather made the game hard going, the warm sunshine only heighted the atmosphere that this game against last season National U15 Girls Champions was going to be a good one...

Mansfield RUFC Girls section who are now into the second year of U15 girls rugby have, if we are honest, have looked across to our neighbours at Newark with envious eyes at their many seasons of well deserved success. So this game was always going to be a highlight of the season but the game that unfold was an epic encounter.

From the kick off, with both sides now fielding the majority of the current NLD U15 squad and U15 development, both went full bore at each with ferocious tackling, rucking, counter rucking and quick ball from the breakdown with both teams searching for a breakthrough but due to the quality of the play both teams they simply cancelled each other out and so a game of attrition began.

Mansfield and Newark each ensured spells of stubborn and determined resistant of their try line which was then released by quick line breaks and as such the atmosphere of the game grew and the stress levels of the coaches of both teams heightened.

Mansfield had Kendall Waudby sin binned for an infringement at a ruck but this short term loss of a player didn't deter Mansfield who then took an opportunity following a line break to allow Emily Bingley to crash over score a try and went into have half time 5 - 0.

As expected Newark didn't quit and whilst the second half repeated the format of the first, Newark forced two of their own breaks and ran in two tries to lead 5 - 10.

The game continued with Newark pressing to finish of the game and Mansfield keeping Newark out of their 22, however in the last minutes a Mansfield scrum in our own half produced a quick series of forward ball followed great handling by the Mansfield backs to enable Chloe Gillicker to charge the ball over the Newark try line to make it 10 - 10.

The game duly finished shortly afterwards with both teams exhausted, supporters from both sides conveying their praise to the players and the coaches of both teams heading straight to the bar for a short swift brandy to calm the nerves.

A fantastic game of U15 girls rugby, a great display of how Girls rugby in the north Nottinghamshire area has created a solid foundation for future years and all played in the correct spirit.

This game will be remembered for years to come and rightly so.