With the sun beaming down onto a boggy pitch Sevenoaks faced East Kent Viragos made up of girls from the Deal, Dover, Thanet and Folkestone clubs and Erin immediately showed good intent as she dived onto a loose ball as the away side reacted slowly to the kick off. Erin herself ran the first try home shortly after following a Jaime pass on the left touchline and Imogen missed a difficult conversion. Viragos then kicked off with a defiant group roar (!) and this inspired them to have a couple of decent attacks of their own before Anne-Marie put in her first tackle of the day creating a turnover. From this Jamie ran it home from midway strongly evading some challenges after a pass from Imogen who herself then converted. The away side then pulled one back when their number 10 tapped and ran a penalty from 10 yards out and got to the line unchallenged though the conversion was missed. In a game with some good hits Heidi then put in a crunching tackle in the opposition half which got the crowd on their feet before Nia (TWs) scored from close in and Imogen converted.
In the second 20 minute period Valentina made a good break down the right after a good run and Anne-Marie made a couple of breaks down the left and shortly after Nia (TW) ran it home but the conversion was missed. Oaks were now camped in Viragos’ half and from close in Jaime touched down as Oaks stamped their authority down with the conversion missed and Nia then added her second score of the day.
In the final 20 minute segment Anne-Marie made a couple of textbook tackles in quick succession thwarting two blindside attacks on the Oaks left from two of the Viragos’ backs. Soon after Lara ran home very well down the same channel and Imogen slotted home a tricky conversion that went in off the right upright. Erin then put up a good 20 yard kick and managed to run on and collect it before Imogen ran home well again on the left feinting inside with a good step and also converting! Maddie, not to be outdone, then got into the action showing good strength and aggression to bulldoze through before Lara added another from deep.
This was a great performance with thanks to the three TW girls drafted in and well done on their total of 5 combined tries! Shout out too to Imogen for slotting home 6 conversions from 10! As well as the tries there was some great defence and a series of decent breaks which kept the crowd all on our toes. The girls were strong in the tackle today and more aggressive in rucks but still need to learn how to pass the ball either before or just at the point of tackle as too often they ran into blind alleys despite some good support. After the game it was good to see them all head to the clubhouse for some food with the opposition!