Sunday 26th January
Sponsored by Kunis Coffee and Comics
Venue: Butlin Road, Rugby.
Weather: Cold and Wet.
Ground: Damp.
Rugby Team: Frankie, Sophie, Ruby, Pauline, Emily, Vince, Soapy, Kiki, Hav, Hev, Nicole.
We welcomed Groby Juniors U11 Vixens Girls for our first encounter with them this season. With plenty of practice of shooting, the girls were looking to get away shots at goal with limited touches using the techniques learnt at the last training session.
First half Groby proved to be a challenge for our girls, with defences on top limiting both teams to half chances at goal. Rugby worked tirelessly both defending and attacking as a team, but found their opponents difficult to breakdown.
First half ended a stalemate, with a challenge for the second half.
As the game kicked-off later than usual, Rugby lost a couple players at the beginning of the second half, meaning we had to re-shuffle the formation and team selection. Using a central defensive midfield player to break up the Groby attacks proved decisive as the opponents’ attacks were limited and Rugby attacked with more purpose.
The weather played a major factor as the rain started for the second half and it was apparent that the temperature had plummeted. Rugby girls seemed to cope better with the change of weather and enabled them to grow into the game, creating many passing interchanges and putting their shooting training skills to the test.
Rugby took control of the game in a positive fashion. The game ended with a fantastic performance for the girls and improved second half display. The skills developed in training were well utilized today with clinical shots on target. It’s pleasing to see the girls are always looking to improve and play as a team; they’re becoming more vocal and defending and attacking in packs.
Overall Performance: Grew in confidence and took control of the game; a massive improvement in individual play. Great team effort by the girls and credit to them the way they dominated in difficult conditions.
Coaches player of the match: Sophie was a rock in defence, especially the second half, winning first and second tackles.
Supporters player of the match: Frankie; a safe pair of hands in goal first half, full of running on the right wing in the second, terrorizing the defence.
Kunis Coffee and Comics player of the match: Soapy; non-stop running and tackling. Never gave up a lost cause, turning one into a goalscoring opportunity. Superb save in the second half as substitute goalkeeper.