September 1st, 2024
Team Sponsors: Hamilton Medical and Life Investments Estate Agents
Squad: GK – Norah, CB – Poppy, LB – Izzy C, RB – Bella, LM – Emilia, LCM – Lottie, RCM – Amy, RM – Sienna, F – Eve
Subs: Izzy O. Sienna M. Maggie, Henrietta
Rugby Town’s new U12 team is a blend of former seasoned U11s, seasoned U10s, and new U11s to the club. A large squad this season should mean plenty of options for fresh legs for each match. We were excited for the first match of the season to put to test the hard work that these two, previously separate but now unified, teams have put in over the summer since combining.
The team consists of all blend of talents that we are looking forward to seeing work together over the 24/25 season. Our first league match took us away to Heather Juniors FC, who provided a well groomed grass pitch and were a good host.
Starting with a 3-4-1 formation, Rugby Town started from the whistle with strength, putting forth the first attack of what would end up being an aggressive back and forth battle of skills. Rugby Town is first to score with Eve battling through the defence to open the score line 0-1 to the away team. Lottie and Amy in the centre midfield positions battled hard to win tackles, and keep the Hawkettes in their side of the pitch.
As the game progressed, the Hawkettes started to find their rhythm, with their quick transitions and passing linking up quickly before we could often reset, saw the opposition level the score to 1-1, and not long going further to 2-1 and then 3-1. Nonetheless, our energy filled wingers, Sienna W and Emilia, using their game awareness, executed many precise passes to Eve, helping RT to gain another advantage when Eve slid the ball past the keeper, bringing us back within one goal.
The Rugby Town defensive line of Bella, Poppy, and Izzy C, worked tirelessly to pick up loose balls and make the necessary tackles to prevent as many shots on our goal as possible. Substitutions were made, seeing Izzy O. in RB, Henrietta to LB, and Maggie to LM. Both Henrietta and Maggie, making their league debuts for Rugby Town, showed determination to win the ball, and fought with tremendous effort for the team. A further substitution, Amy to have a break and Sienna M to take her place, gave Rugby Town another boost of energy and keeping the game within one going into half.
Half Time: 3-2
The second half found the Hawkettes seeming to gain further momentum, while Rugby Town began to fall a bit back on old habits of being too static, with less intensity to win the ball than how we started. This gave the opposition the chance to slip past our defence, scoring another two goals. GK Norah, however, stayed calm and collected under pressure, helping the RT defense to continue shutting down as many attacks as possible.
Further substitutions saw Bella temporarily filling in at RW giving Sienna W. a breather, before moving back to LB and allowing Sienna W. back into her comfortable place on the pitch. Sienna M, moving into LW allowed for the width that the team needed to help press forward. An unlucky handball in our box gave Heather a PK, but it was brilliantly saved by Norah, and brought into her possession.
Opportunities for scoring were presenting themselves again, as Rugby Town started looking up for passes, giving Eve the balls she needed to get through the defensive line and score twice more, bringing the score back to within one again. This gave the team the momentum again to work hard and trying to get an equaliser before the whistle, but unfortunately it did not come to pass.
Coaches and parents are very proud of our team’s performance today, despite the narrow loss. Onwards and upwards with this amazing new group of talented and enthusiastic players.
Eve: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
PPOM: Eve
POM: Lottie