7th September 2003 - Beccs travel to Footscray for a friendly
(No idea of the score - I lost count!!)
Beccehamian Ladies played their first game of the season this Sunday with a friendly game away to Footscray. With the ground still very hard it was slow going for Beccs to get back into the swing of things and the more experienced Footscray were quick to take advantage.
Playing twelve against thirteen aside, Beccs were fielding a rather bizarre comedy line-up having just one back available on this occasion. The team therefore consisted of a tight-five pack in front of a back-line consisting solely of forwards apart from skipper Alex Tyson. With Footscray playing with an extra back it was hard-going for the first twenty minutes and Beccs found it difficult to get organised with the strange line-up and also with a number of new faces playing in the team for the first time this year. This meant that Footscray were able to cross the line quite a few times with some well-worked tries.
The match was split into four twenty minute quarters so the teams were able to re-organise and get some coaching in between play. Beccs had plenty to talk about in the breaks and began to play with more cohesion putting in some good passages of play.
The match was a first opportunity to play rugby for some of our new players and in the scrum we had four brand new Beccehamians getting a taste of rugby from the front. In the front-row Becky Tyson played her first match as prop next to our new hooker, Michelle Pope. Both had immense games and were soon putting in tackles and haring about the field to get stuck in. Michelle's throwing into the lineout was also sound putting in some good straight balls.
Behind them were locks Jacqui Fincham playing her first ever game of rugby and Hannah Watts, playing her first game for Beccs after arriving via Worcester WRFC and Cardiff University. Both Jacqui and Hannah put a good performance, Jacqui making a memorable run back up the field to put in a try-saving tackle and Hannah playing much of the second half as a centre having some strong runs through midfield.
The match also saw a welcome return to rugby for Kelly Malynn playing her first match after a long year out with a broken leg. Kelly instantly showed her superb fitness and was soon covering the ground to put in some big tackles.
Although on the back foot for a lot of the match it was a useful training run before the beginning of the season. The second two quarters in particular were extremely good with growing confidence from everyone and good commitment. Footscray were finding it much harder to penetrate through the defence during this time. The ball possession increased dramatically and technique in the ruck and maul also improved as everyone began to play as a team and began to improve their communication. The only real problem was the lack of backs and it was just that missing turn of speed out wide which would have made such a difference. So an encouraging thought to take from this match is how different it could have been if we'd have had some more of our ladies available.
But full credit to Footscray who are a very good and well organised team and played a great game of rugby against us. They are also a very friendly bunch! We wish them the very best of luck in Division 2 SE-E next season and hope we can play them again in the not too distant future.
Beccs have one more friendly match before the start of the season which is as the City of London team against Teddington Antlers on 14th September. The first league match in Division 3 SE-E is on Sunday 21st September away to Canterbury.
Beccehamian Team
Forwards:
Sam Howe (prop), Michelle Pope (hooker), Becky Tyson (prop), Jacqui Fincham (lock), Hannah Watts (lock), Sarah Henson (No 8.)
Backs:
Karen Benham (scrum-half), Alex Tyson (fly-half), Kelly Malynn (centre), Amanda Fenwick (centre), Lara Fisher (wing), Lucy Chitty (wing)
Players of the Match
Forwards:
Sarah Henson
Backs:
Kelly Malynn
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