Esher V Mermaids

Final score: Mermaids 3 - Esher 36

A full match report will be posted as soon as possible but in the interim:

A very tough game against a very strong team. Unfortunately we were let down by a number of players who said they were coming and then never bothered to let us know that they had changed their minds. We only had 15 players on the day, one of whom - Tara Griffiths - had never played rugby before and in fact had only attended one training session - she thought she would just have a 10 minute try out on the pitch but bravely played for the whole match - Well Done Tara. Other players who joined the Mermaids for the day: Bethan & Elin Lloyd Jones (Bangor), Cara Bryan (Oswestry), Suzie Walker and Tara Griffiths (Llangollen), Charlotte Pirie (Pwllheli) and Jess McAuley (Coleg Meirion Dwyfor).

As usual the Mermaids were in second gear for the first 15 minutes, by which time Esher had capitalised on the mistakes and handling errors and scored 21 points. The Mermaids then began to play rugby and were very impressive in the scrum but, due to lack of match experience, fared badly in the line outs. Jess McAuley looked to be in perfect position to score a try but keeled over with an ankle injury and had to sit out the rest of the game. The game was further interrupted by injuries to 2 of the Esher girls in a scrum and they were taken to the local hospital to be checked out. The game was moved to another pitch while the girls were being dealt with and Ellen Jones scored 3 much needed points for the Mermaids with a penalty.

After the match there was much laughter and singing in the clubhouse before the Esher girls set off, first to pick up their strays at the hospital, then for the long trek back to Surrey.

Sunday's match

Bring your black Gogledd Cymru polo shirts to wear after the match, rather than your Mermaid shirts. We are meeting at the club at 12 - 12.15.

Next match

Remember you have a match V Esher next Sunday (April 5). KO 2pm - meet in changing room 12.30 at latest. Try and get to training on Thursday as Louis needs to work out positions. Email or text me if you need any more details.

U18 Mermaids – the Italian job

The U18 Mermaids flew to Rome for their annual tour early on Saturday morning. They were determined to make it a tour to remember as several of the girls will leave the team to take up the challenge of senior rugby at the end of the season.

The tour was only possible due to the generous sponsorship of Chris at Ticketbooth – http://www.ticketbooth.org.uk/ – who not only supplied the tickets to the Italy-France 6 Nations clash, but also subsidised the accommodation budget, meaning that the girls spent 2 nights in a swish 4* hotel in Rome.

After flying in to Ciampino airport the team was chauffeured to the hotel and then on to Stadio Flaminio to watch an exciting game of rugby, which unfortunately the host country lost. The girls all enjoyed the game and immediately after went to Finnegan’s Irish pub to watch the England-Scotland clash and then the eagerly anticipated Grand Slam decider between Wales-Ireland. A party of (very) vocal and patriotic Welsh girls in a pub packed with Irish supporters certainly raised a few eyebrows, not to mention the noise levels!

After the tense and nail-biting finish, we all trooped off to a local restaurant for what we all agreed were the best pizzas ever. Sunday was spent on the move, with Chris from Ticketbooth giving us a guided tour of Rome, which included stops for ice cream and hot chocolate – deemed essential by the Mermaids to keep them going. The evening was spent in Alfredo’s – a (before we arrived) quiet, typically Italian restaurant. Here we were served with a wide range of local delicacies (the adults and older girls also sampled the local beverages!). The evening ended with a competition. The Mermaids were split into 3 groups. The first task was to give a rendition of the Italian national anthem, which the girls had been previously told to learn. The first group (Abi, Kumari & Loz) gave their own version of the anthem, having rewritten the lyrics to tell of their days in Rome: the second group (Joely, Sarah & Mwsh) had to enlist the help of one of the waiters but the third group (Anna, Emma, Ellie & Gemma) admitted that they had not learnt the anthem and instead gave a rousing rendition of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The second task was a rugby related quiz, with questions concerning the Italy-France game. Points were then added for attendance at training over the season. It was a close contest but the eventual winner was Loz, who was thrilled with her prize – the unique ‘players only’ t-shirt worn for pre-match training by Italian player Mirco Bergamasco. It was a great end to a fabulous weekend and the tired party fell into bed ready for the journey home the next morning.

The tour party – Anna, Kumari, Loz, Ellie, Sarah, Abi, Emma, Mwsh, Joely, Gemma, Gill, Louis and Ann are extremely grateful to Chris at Ticketbooth for his friendship, kindness, patience, humour and generous support to the U18 Mermaids. The girls certainly had a tour to remember and all agreed that it was the best tour ever!

Update

Better numbers at training last night though I believe some of you were misbehaving while I was away dealing with an injury to one of the U15s. Well done to those who acted their age and did not rise to the bait. You will all know who I mean.

Early night tonight for those coming to Rome - 4am start!

Match V Esher

This match is now confirmed for Sunday 5 April at 2pm. We are trying to get all the Gogledd Cymru U18s together - not sure yet which kit you will play in - we'll take a vote.

Thursday training

Training tomorrow at 6.45pm - try and be there as I need to finalise details for tour plus Louis needs to talk to you about rugby matters.