U13 Minxes win with a confident performance at cluster event

Melbourne v NLD Cluster (Ashby, Long Eaton & Amber Valley)

Today Melbourne hosted the second NLD pitch up and play. Club representation was slightly down on numbers due to Doncaster hosting the England ladies game, so several clubs had headed north to support the red roses.
Melbourne welcomed Young Match Official Rohan Welsh to the minxes game, a recently qualified referee who took the game all get in his stride, managing to control the minxes in a safe environment using good communication and hand signals. Thanks Rohan!
The minxes had 13 girls available so every 10 minutes 3 of Melbourne’s side rotated and played for the clustering side. Today’s rugby showed some real depth with every girl showing the progress they have made over the last couple of weeks of mid-week training and Sunday training due to having no games.
Q1.
Kezia received the kick off almost on our try line and was in two minds to run with ball in hand to get the pressure away from our try line, however she opted to go to ground and present the ball. Abigail quickly scooped the ball up and ran from deep to open the scoring. Melbourne’s pressure around the field and line speed when in defence soon paid off as the cluster side were pinged for a forward pass from our restart kick and we passed the ball through hands swiftly for Emily to crash to score. The minxes tackling and rucking during this game was effective even when they were facing the Demon Delia playing for the cluster side. It was great to see Eva back to for fearless self as she had some great carries during this quarter in one such run she managed to offload for Alicia to carry on and take the ball up the pitch on a charge, the ball came out to Emily who managed to spin out of the tackle for another drive before finally passing the ball to Mya to score.
Q1 Score: Melbourne 9 – Cluster 0
Q2.
This quarter saw 3 different girls swap sides and play for the cluster side, several weeks ago this would have been a real challenge for the Melbourne side as the three amigos turned their shirts inside out but not today Melbourne out rucked, played the ball through the hands and put in some convincing tackles. Amy’s try came from fantastic run of play starting with Mya who passed the ball to Kezia, who then gave it to Delia for Amy to get the ball over the white wash – a great team try. Again, Miller was in the thick of it tackling players twice the size of her without a care in the world. Melbourne’s second and final try of the game was yet again another brilliant team effort; Miller, Delia, Mya, Olivia and Amy all touched the ball prior to Mya scoring.
Q2 Score: Melbourne 2 – Cluster 4
Q3.
Another strong quarter starting with Kezia driving hard and getting ball out the back of the maul to the waiting hands of Evie. The team were all playing their part with Abigail V, Fearn and Maddie getting ball in hand and making yards in the game, Delia’s ripping and rucking was ferocious and the turn of pace from Abigail the whole length of the pitch earnt her a try with noticeable support running from two minxes just in case she didn’t make it.
Q3 Score: Melbourne 8 – Cluster 0
Q4.
The final quarter of the game and the girls had got the bit between their teeth, coach James was bursting with pride at some of the rugby being shown across the field. Scrum half Amy worked well alongside Olivia who was showing confidence in both attack and defence. Tries were coming a plenty so team manager Rachel stepped in and much to the groans of the 3 amigos swapped them back over to the cluster side to even the contest and promote more of a challenge.
Q4 Score: Melbourne 8 – Cluster 1

Girl of the Game - Mya