All MACs U16s v Long Eaton U16s

V long eaton

A return to action after a few weeks rest as Long Eaton came to take on the mighty All Mac U16’s at Melbourne on a grey breezy day. Pitch conditions were sticky underfoot but the weather was set dry so the stage was set for an entertaining game of rugby.

The crowd didn’t have to wait long for the first glimpse of action as strong carry’s straight from the kick off saw Mac make decent inroads into the Long Eaton defence and secure rucking provided multiple phases of possession to take the ball over th half way line and into the visitors half. All Mac took full advantage of their possession by shipping the ball to Katie on the right touchline who ran it up and over the try line touching down under the posts for the first score of the match after 4 minutes. Kira adding the extras from the tee.
7-0

The next try was set up following two outstanding defensive efforts by Rose who first tackled the LE number 8 inside her own 22 when a try looked almost certain and a couple of phases later showed immense skill over the ball to win back possession. From here a dominant All Mac scrum allowed the ball to flow out to the centres when Katie appeared in Kiras inside shoulder to shred the visiting defense and get to within 2m of the try line before being tackled but Georgie was there in support to pick and score to the right of the posts.
Kira once again adding the extras
14-0

The scrum proved an attacking platform all day and the next score came from a well worked ball through the back of the scrum passing from Immi to Kira who took it well into the Ling Eaton half when Katie appeared, this time in the outside shoulder to run it in from 20 metres out. Kira remaining perfect from the kicking tee to take the score to 21-0

The rest of the half consisted of a staunch defensive effort by the home team with Emi providing a quality steel on the floor, Kira, Molly, and Darcy leading the tackle count. Long Eaton did threaten the try line briefly but Maisie stepped into rip the ball clean from the ball carrier and Evie P secured possession as time ran out.

Long Eaton stormed out the blocks for the second half and caught All Macs by surprise. An early LE scrum in halfway preceded a run at the home defence where a number of missed tackles allowed the visitors to register their first score of the day. Their ever-present number 8 touching down for the try.
21-7

Long Eaton followed up straight away as their hooker took the ball from the halfway line to nearly touchdown but for a try saving tackle, that was then adjudged to be a high tackle, to lead to a penalty try.
21-14

All Mac were then unlucky not to add to their tally when a period of solid defence inside their own 22 led to a turnover and Katie found herself in open field with acres of space in front of her only for play to be called to a halt for treatment to an injured player. After which Long Eaton regained the ball and advanced toward the line using big runners to cross the whitewash for their third try. The missed conversion retaining the All Mac lead.

The home team recovered from this shell-shock start through a typical run from the base of the scrum by Georgie who won a penalty across halfway. Maisie’s lineout ball was secured by Emmi and found its way to Immi who ran the ball wide before offloading to Kira who fixed her opposite number in place and provided a touch pass to Katie on the outside to beat the final defender and complete her hat trick.
Kira keeping 100% kicking accuracy to move the score to 28-19

With growing confidence the All Macs secured the ball well into their own 22m following the restart. Kira took the ball across the 22 before releasing Katie to beat the covering defence and offload to Kira who turned her defender inside-out and then sprinted under the post from the halfway line and then converting to extend the lead to 35-19

But Long Eaton were not out of the contest yet and an attacking scrum inside the home 22 provided a launch pad for their number 8 to power over the line again.
35-26

A slightly strange passage of play ensued as Long Eaton broke away into the All Mac 22 but for the try saving tackle to somehow be adjudged high. Playing through the advantage; Long Eaton progressed forward and had a try awarded despite a second movement and a defenders hands appearing to be under the ball. With the score at 35-33 the last few minutes looked set to be thrilling.

The restart forced a Long Eaton knock on and Lottie B secured the ball from the resulting scrum and distributing to Immi who attacked the defensive line superbly and then released Kira through the line who then provided Katie with quick ball to score her fourth try of the game.
40-33

It was somewhat fitting that the final score commenced through a run by Amele (playing against her former club) into midfield with Kira on hand to provide an accurate pass to Immi running on the right wing who ran the ball from halfway under the post for her first try and All Macs 7th. Kira adding the conversion to take her tally to 6 from 7 with the boot.
47-33

Well done to all girls- fantastic performance all round, providing entertaining rugby and a dominant display against a tough opposition.

Thank you to the Coaches and Managers for making the game possible and Melbourne RFC for hosting the fixture.