U18 Mermaids V Pwllheli
Score: Mermaids 20 – Pwllheli 0
Originally the U18 Mermaids fixture was planned against Ysgol Botwrnog, with the help of Ellie Wynn Jones. Pwllheli agreed to fill the breach as the school were unable to raise an U18 team. We are grateful to Ellie Wynn Jones and the coaching staff at Pwllheli, Sian and Linda, for organising this planned practice fixture.
The Mermaids were joined by sisters Bethan and Elin Lloyd Jones from Bangor rugby club, Ellie Jones, Cara Smith and Kelly Staples from Oswestry rugby club and Eluned Rogers from Ruthin RFC.
Gemma Tilyard and Ellie Rawicki in the first half and Kelly Staples and Ellie Jones in the second half were loaned to Pwllheli who were also joined by a few girls from Ysgol Botwrnog to make for a more reasonable 15 a side game. This helped to fulfil partly the objectives of the journey, to train together and play a mixed squad which would help develop the game and individual players in North Wales.
There appeared to be sufficient pride in the jerseys to make for a feisty and passionate encounter.
The first half belonged to the Mermaids who stormed from the kick off to camp almost exclusively in the Pwllheli half, launching wave upon wave of their now trade mark style of phased play from rucks and mauls. They have also managed to develop speed amongst the backs which helped them spread the attack wide when necessary. Four tries resulted. None of them were converted.
The second half began much the same way the first ended with the Mermaids foraging into the Pwllheli half. However, unnecessary penalties and dropped balls saw them squander scoring opportunities on the Pwllheli try line. Pwllheli changed tactics using long range kicks to get out of their half. They were eventually rewarded spending the last 10 minutes or so of the match close to the Mermaids try line. However the Mermaids survived some anxious moments, and some detained and fierce tackling saw them keep a clean sheet at the end.
Sisters Bethan and Elin Lloyd Jones had en excellent game, complementing the Mermaids forwards, with some fine clearing and rucking at the breakdowns and carrying the ball past the gain line many times. All the forwards had good games with Emma Beaumont, Sarah Johnston, Kumari Tilakawardane, and Joely Benton doing well as always. It was particularly rewarding to see Gemma Tilyard gaining in confidence and showing a fine display of tackling and ball carrying and to see Eluned Rogers gelling well with the forwards. Eluned had an exceptional game amongst an unfamiliar squad and should be a name to watch out for in the future. Another newcomer to rugby, Cara Smith from Oswestry gave a superb account of herself in the second row, again a name to be followed in the future.
Amongst the backs Elin Royle played with the assurance and élan that we have come to expect of her at full back. She collected the high ball with ease and glided well past the Pwllheli attackers time and again. She was unfortunate to be deemed to have knocked the ball on close to the try line, the referee being momentarily unsighted. All the backs performed well as a unit with good support and communication keeping the ball alive and joining in with the forwards to keep momentum. Abi Beards, Loz McGee, Ellie Jones had good games with ball in hand and tackling. Anna Parkin marshalled her backs well. Sian Williams had many breaks into the opposition two ending in tries.
In a good team it is difficult to pikc a player of the match for the side but it would be fair that Eluned Rogers and Cara Smith, having very good games on their debuts, should share the accolade.
The Pwllheli girls played well together and showed that they are used to playing together. There is talent in abundance in Pwllheli and they will become even more formidable with match experience.
Certainly the way ahead to develop girls’ rugby in the region has been forged. Thanks are due to the management of Ysgol Botwrnog, Pwllheli, Colwyn Bay, Bangor, Oswestry and Ruthin rugby clubs for their support. Today the planned joint training sessions did not take place. Maybe in the days to come, combined training sessions would be a more comfortable place for all club squads to visit, setting alight the talent that is available in the region for Gogledd and Welsh squads.
Tries were scored by: Sian Williams (2), Anna Parkin, Joely Benton.
Score: Mermaids 20 – Pwllheli 0
Originally the U18 Mermaids fixture was planned against Ysgol Botwrnog, with the help of Ellie Wynn Jones. Pwllheli agreed to fill the breach as the school were unable to raise an U18 team. We are grateful to Ellie Wynn Jones and the coaching staff at Pwllheli, Sian and Linda, for organising this planned practice fixture.
The Mermaids were joined by sisters Bethan and Elin Lloyd Jones from Bangor rugby club, Ellie Jones, Cara Smith and Kelly Staples from Oswestry rugby club and Eluned Rogers from Ruthin RFC.
Gemma Tilyard and Ellie Rawicki in the first half and Kelly Staples and Ellie Jones in the second half were loaned to Pwllheli who were also joined by a few girls from Ysgol Botwrnog to make for a more reasonable 15 a side game. This helped to fulfil partly the objectives of the journey, to train together and play a mixed squad which would help develop the game and individual players in North Wales.
There appeared to be sufficient pride in the jerseys to make for a feisty and passionate encounter.
The first half belonged to the Mermaids who stormed from the kick off to camp almost exclusively in the Pwllheli half, launching wave upon wave of their now trade mark style of phased play from rucks and mauls. They have also managed to develop speed amongst the backs which helped them spread the attack wide when necessary. Four tries resulted. None of them were converted.
The second half began much the same way the first ended with the Mermaids foraging into the Pwllheli half. However, unnecessary penalties and dropped balls saw them squander scoring opportunities on the Pwllheli try line. Pwllheli changed tactics using long range kicks to get out of their half. They were eventually rewarded spending the last 10 minutes or so of the match close to the Mermaids try line. However the Mermaids survived some anxious moments, and some detained and fierce tackling saw them keep a clean sheet at the end.
Sisters Bethan and Elin Lloyd Jones had en excellent game, complementing the Mermaids forwards, with some fine clearing and rucking at the breakdowns and carrying the ball past the gain line many times. All the forwards had good games with Emma Beaumont, Sarah Johnston, Kumari Tilakawardane, and Joely Benton doing well as always. It was particularly rewarding to see Gemma Tilyard gaining in confidence and showing a fine display of tackling and ball carrying and to see Eluned Rogers gelling well with the forwards. Eluned had an exceptional game amongst an unfamiliar squad and should be a name to watch out for in the future. Another newcomer to rugby, Cara Smith from Oswestry gave a superb account of herself in the second row, again a name to be followed in the future.
Amongst the backs Elin Royle played with the assurance and élan that we have come to expect of her at full back. She collected the high ball with ease and glided well past the Pwllheli attackers time and again. She was unfortunate to be deemed to have knocked the ball on close to the try line, the referee being momentarily unsighted. All the backs performed well as a unit with good support and communication keeping the ball alive and joining in with the forwards to keep momentum. Abi Beards, Loz McGee, Ellie Jones had good games with ball in hand and tackling. Anna Parkin marshalled her backs well. Sian Williams had many breaks into the opposition two ending in tries.
In a good team it is difficult to pikc a player of the match for the side but it would be fair that Eluned Rogers and Cara Smith, having very good games on their debuts, should share the accolade.
The Pwllheli girls played well together and showed that they are used to playing together. There is talent in abundance in Pwllheli and they will become even more formidable with match experience.
Certainly the way ahead to develop girls’ rugby in the region has been forged. Thanks are due to the management of Ysgol Botwrnog, Pwllheli, Colwyn Bay, Bangor, Oswestry and Ruthin rugby clubs for their support. Today the planned joint training sessions did not take place. Maybe in the days to come, combined training sessions would be a more comfortable place for all club squads to visit, setting alight the talent that is available in the region for Gogledd and Welsh squads.
Tries were scored by: Sian Williams (2), Anna Parkin, Joely Benton.
No comments:
Post a Comment