| A spirited display at Reading’s Sonning Lane ground by the Berks
under 18 Girls brought them just one try but plenty of praise from their manager
Nicola Eames. “Before the game they were apprehensive about playing the Canadian
national team. But they all stepped up to the plate and did really well.
I am proud of the effort they all put in”, she said. |
| Certainly, the visitors knew they had been in a hard game as the home
side harried them at every stage. Canada were well-drilled and powerful and it
took some spirited tackling to hold them out until two late tries against a tiring
home side distorted the score somewhat. |
| Berks touch-down came from full-back Alice McGill who outpaced several
opponents while shifting from right to left wing to score a brilliant solo effort. |
| Others who stood out were scrum half Aliena Archer, dealing effectively
with some difficult line out ball and pressure from her opposite number at the
scrums, Hannah Edwards in the centre, back-rowers Aisling Byrne and Amy Millar,
and flanker/full back Hannah Field. |
| This was a superb opportunity for the girls to test themselves against
quality opponents and that we could even consider playing a National team shows just
how far our Berks team has come in the last few years. The Canadian squad is keen
to play English sides to continue its national development programme and we are
hoping the fixture could become an annual New Year event. All the spectators who
came along and braved the chilly January day were treated to a fine display of
Girls’ rugby and the friendly atmosphere in the Club afterwards as the players
mixed and chatted was a great advert for the game.
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| Berkshire: Alice McGill; Bryony Cleall, Melody Allen, Hannah Edwards, Alica Fidler; Grace Hilbourne, Aliena Archer; Rebekah Lamden, Hannah Owen, Josie Bond, Helen Keohane (capt), Amy Symes, Aisling Byrne, Hannah Field, Amy Millar Subs: Poly Leyland, Kristy Papworth, Poppy Cleall, Charlotte Hunt, Dani Parker.
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