9th June 2002 - Beccs Ladies host SHAPE Ladies and 10's Tournament!
This week Beccehamian ladies were hosts to SHAPE ladies rugby team from near Mons in Belgium. SHAPE stands for the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Power of Europe which is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military command headquarters. SHAPE ladies therefore boast players from America, Britain, Belgium and Germany.
After a meal out with our SHAPE friends on Saturday evening (in full hula-grass skirts), Beccehamians played host to a number of local clubs with a friendly 10's tournament. Both Beccs and SHAPE took part along with Ashford Ladies and both the SE Division 4 and 5 Champions, Footscray and Aylesford respectively.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable day of rugby, beginning with each team playing each other in a 20 minute, 10 a-side match. As the weather took a turn for the worse later on in the day and a couple of teams were missing players, some mixed-team games were alternatively staged. This did mean that there were no overall winners to what was a friendly tournament - apart from all those taking part - as a great day was had by all!
Beccehamian Games:
Vs SHAPE Ladies Rugby, Belgium
First up for Beccehamians were our visitors, SHAPE Ladies from Belgium. On an overcast and windy day the first match got off to flying start with Captain Louise Thomas beginning the scoring with a well worked try. SHAPE put on the pressure with some solid defence which led to some good mid-field play. The second score of the match came when 2nd row Sarah Henson managed to break through the SHAPE line to run in a try. Just before half-time, SHAPE put on the pressure and took good advantage of a couple of Beccs mistakes. With some good mauling they managed to cross the line for their first score of the day. The second half was a lot closer with some tighter play from both sides. Some good scrummaging was carried out by both teams, SHAPE having the weight advantage but Beccs technique enabling hooker Gill Horn to take quite a few against the head. Much of the play took place in mid-field but neither side was able to take advantage and the second half ended scoreless. The final score was therefore a win to Beccehamians 10-5.
Vs Footscray
Next up for Beccehamians were this seasons champions of SE Division 4, Footscray who are a similar team to Beccs in the way they play. This was therefore a very close game with both teams attempting to run the ball around the pitch and to pass the ball quickly out to the wings. With some exciting play from both sides it was Footscray who managed to capitalise and run in a try just before half-time. Beccehamians came out fighting in the second half, determined to put on a good display against the now Division 3 side. In this half, some great running play was seen from Alex Tyson playing on the wing instead of her usual position in the pack. A concerted effort meant that Beccs could keep a clean sheet this half with no scoring from either team. The final score was a win for Footscray 0-7, but a very encouraging result for Beccehamians who are about to enter the National League next season in SE Division 5.
Vs an Aylesford and Ashford XV
Aylesford were missing a couple of players and so borrowed a couple of Beckenham girls for the day, and Ashford had incurred a couple of injuries so a mixed Aylesford-Ashford XV took on Beccehamian Ladies who also borrowed one Footscray winger for the match. This was a great game of rugby with full squads on the pitch for the first time that day. It was Beccs who began the scoring with a flying try from full-back Wendy Stevens. Ashford and Aylesford began to pitch in togetherand began to fight back with some ferocious rucking and good scrummaging. However it was Beccs who could take advantage of the other girls not having played together before and ran in their second try of the match which was converted by centre Shannon Fisher. The second half was very similar with some good hands from Beccehamians taking advantage of any space they could find. A concerted effort by the whole squad saw two more tries being run in, a second from Wendy Stevens and a second from our Footscray winger, and Beccs managed to keep a clean sheet in defence to make the final score 22-0.
A mixed Beccs/SHAPE side Vs Footscray
The final match of the day took place in torrential rain between a mixed Beccs and SHAPE side verses Footscray. On what had been a long day of rugby, Footscray were able to take advantage in this final game and beat the mixed side by running in a number of tries. It was a tightly-fought match where both Beccs and SHAPE put in a good performance to play as a team for the first time. When the final whistle went, all were soaked and ready for a hot shower and welcome food...
A very big thanks to Ashford, Aylesford and Footscray for helping to make the day so successful, and we look forward to meeting them again next season.
And very big thanks also go to SHAPE Ladies rugby who were a nice, friendly bunch and gave us a very entertaining weekend - can't wait to see the photos.. Thanks for the beers and all our goodies (including the plaque!) and we most definitely look forward to a return visit soon! Safe trip home..
Beccehamian Team
Forwards:
Sarah Cobb (flanker), Jo Henson (prop), Sarah Henson (2nd row), Gill Horn (hooker), Sam Howe (prop), Kelly Malynn (2nd row/no 8.), Jules May (flanker), Angela Stark (flanker),
Backs:
Karen Benham (centre), Charlotte Boultbee (scrum-half), Lara Fisher (wing), Shannon Fisher (centre), Charlotte Henry (wing), Wendy Stevens (full-back), Louise Thomas (Captain & fly-half), Alex Tyson (wing)
Players of the Match
Forwards: - Gill Horn & Sam Howe
Backs: - Wendy Stevens & Alex Tyson
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