U18 Girls See Off Tough Challenge

The girls took on perennial rivals Aylesford in what promised to be a tough friendly fixture. After a slightly stilted performance last week in the cup, the girls were keen to get back to the flowing rugby they can play but Aylesford had the better of the early exchanges and Boro struggled to get much time on the ball in the opening minutes. However, having survived the opening attacks, they gradually established a foothold in the game and a flowing move with some excellent recycling through the phases was rounded off by Issy Mayhew to give Pulborough the lead. Not content with that, Issy then looped well to get on the end of another flowing Boro attack to double the lead to 10-0.

Aylesford continued to provide tough opposition and asked a number of questions of the girls but their defence held firm and a sequence of attacking rucks eventually resulted in Jordan Hopkins powering over from close range and Maddy Buckland converted to stretch the lead further to 17-0 at half time.

Still Aylesford continued to ask questions of the girls but their defence held firm and an attacking and beautifully timed pass allowed Sarah Cornforth to score Boro’s fourth try under the posts and Maddy again added the extras to put Pulborough further ahead.

The attacking play was really beginning to flow now and whilst Aylesford denied Boro too many chances, when they did come, the girls really took advantage an excellent interchange of passes down the wing allowed Lily Dibb-Fuller to run in the girls’ fifth try. Almost immediately from the restart, Sarah broke away and ran half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Maddy added the conversion to put Boro 36-0 ahead.

Aylesford continued to attack and put the girls under pressure but a quick penalty in the Boro 22 allowed the girls to run the length of the pitch with anoutstanding interchange of passes finished off with Bluebell Nicholls scoring under the posts and Maddy again converting. The match finished with Aylesford still on the attack and asking questions of the Boro defence without being able to get the score that their play and commitment really deserved and Boro ran out 43-0 winners.

It was an excellent performance by every one of the girls and showed what they can do when they’re really playing well. We need to bottle this and serve it up in the up coming cup fixtures!