Melbourne Minxes headed to Long Eaton to face, yet again, Mansfield, Boston and a BaaBaa side made up of Long Eaton, Newark and a couple players each from Mansfield, Boston and ourself.

Match One
The first team to be faced was the BaaBaas, who just happened to have one of our more experienced and stronger girls Izzy Boyer playing for them. The game started fantastically with 3 quick tries from Yves Delaney, Leah Mitchell and Halle Parker before Izzy managed to find a gap to score against us. The game was wonderful to watch with our formation being held well, great offloads and some wonderful running from all of the girls. As much as we have to acknowledge Izzy for using her strength and knowledge to put us under real pressure she didn't have it all her own way with some amazing physical strength from Shani-Rose Macarthur putting in a real shift on her debut. We conceded another before Lauren Rickett forced her oposite winger out 2ms from our try line before collecting the ball from the restart to runing the full length of the pitch to score herself. Katie Clarke on her debut decided that she fancied some of the fun and made a cracking run from the half way line, looking like a pro as she put in a little shuffle of her feet to gain ground on one player only to be caught and driven in to touch by another. Chloe Domjan has slowly found her strengths this season and put them on show today with more physicality, better technique and real confidence making her an important part of the side which needed her with so many new faces.

Match Two
Match two saw us face Mansfield who are still as strong as ever due to their great recruitment a few seasons ago and a side that we have conceeded our fair share of tries against already this season. The girls stood toe to toe with the Mansfield girls but due to the size difference of many of them we could only stand eye to belly button. Mansfield struggled to break our lines with wave after wave of attacks but our girls did us proud. Lydia Wilkinson was back in the Green and Amber again after her thumb injury and it was like she hadn't missed a day of rugby. You could hear her shouting out commands to the girls, managing our defence and attack from everywere around Long Eaton Rugby Club. Making her debut was Amy Newman-Rogers who had only been to one training session but shifted the ball so quickly that we were able to break through their defence but we couldn't make it as far as the try line. As much as were able to hold them back their experience at the break down was enough to secure them the win.
Considering the size difference and experience we have to praise the girls who managed to conceed half of the tries against Mansfield compared to the first match of the season. Progress is so visable that it only inspires us coaches even more.

Match Three
Boston again which meant strong strapping girls running at us in wave after wave after wace after, well you get the point. Boston brought with them a new kit and a new level of ability but again our girls too had stepped up a gear and the game looked great. However our girls ability to absorb Mansfields attack and their efforts to keep Boston contained soon wore them down and fatigued started to kick in. Even the mazy runs of Skye Sloman, the regenerated confident Ella Abraham and AMAZING tackling of Yves Delaney could defeat the Boston girls. In passing we heard that all but one of the Boston girls will be heading to the U15s next season which makes the performance agains them so much sweeter.

Tries
Halle Parker
Izzy Boyer
Lauren Rickett
Leah Mitchell

Dame of The Game
Almost too difficult to pick this week

Match details

Match date

Sun 22 Nov 2015

Kickoff

01:00

Team overview