The weather conditions were great for the team’s first outing, hint of sun with a chill in the air which only means one thing.... Rugby is coming......

Headed to Maidenhead RFC for a friendly game on the Astro pitch. Layers are the key when playing on Astro and apparently Vaseline.... Who knew.....

The girls have completed their pre-season training as a new squad and are ready and rearing to go.... So, this game is a warmup of great things to come!

First impression of Maidenhead strong and tall!!

Game fast pace straight off the whistle, first try to Maidenhead, Farnham girls finding their feet, made some good defensive moves. First Try to Maidenhead....conversion made.

Maidenhead making some good moves but a mistake by the try line led to a free kick for Farnham.
Then to our first scrum, great move ball kicked down the pitch. Great movement by Farnham good tackling and rucking.
Farnham battled way, but Maidenhead pushed on for a 2nd try.... But whilst good effort on the kick, Maidenhead missed...
Farnham looked a little deflated walking to the centre line....

1st throw in to Farnham, great run by Jess and Eliza, trying to push forward, ball intercepted, and Charlotte A taken down. Maidenhead fought back and got another try..... kick a good distance but no score

2nd scrum due to a Farnham knock on... Maidenhead moved quickly....
Maidenhead no 10 whipped up the pitch for another try.... This point 24-0
Another scrum near to Farnham try line.... Scrum crumpled, Farnham to retake... great kick out... Farnham chased the ball down Maidenhead made a silly mistake, leading to another scrum....
Another scrum lead to a great run down the pitch but Maidenhead turned our heads and another try and kick 34 - 0
Kick taken quickly by Farnham leading to another scrum by Farnham and good movement in the Maidenhead half...
Some great tackling by Farnham but Maidenhead pushing forward again....
Great tackling again.... Farnham trying hard to regain the ground but Maidenhead did it again....
36-0
Half time whistle blew
Good cover tackles when making break Forced the pass couple of times to many when they could have held it for longer... Clearly up against an experienced team.

2nd half
Missed start I was getting a tea... came out to a try and another conversion their number 10 leading the way!
Another scrum to Farnham.... Tackles made pushing Farnham into Maidenhead end, brilliant run made by savannah for Farnham taking their first try with poppy making the conversion!!
Farnham on the board 7 – Whoop Whoop
Girls now running to the centre line.... Pressure lifted....
Farnham received the ball but Maidenhead pushed on, good run made by Eliza... leading to a scrum
Our on the scene reporter – Dom Parker caught up on the action at Try no 2...
Farnham won a Scrum against the head and Mae scorched down the wing for the 2nd try this was made by the forwards (piano shifters) delivered by the backs (piano player) great rugby to watch...
Poppy had a difficult angle and the wind didn’t help.... But brilliantly executed it!
43- 12
Farnham spirits rising..... and the crowds!!
Then Dom reported a crunching Try saving tackle by Eliza, desperate try line defence kept Maidstone out yet again, Farnham really throwing themselves into the game brilliant to watch.
Maidenhead quickly pushed forward... another scrum... they pushed on but Farnham did well at defending the line....
Dom reported - A break away attack by Farnham in the Maidstone half, bought to a halt by a crunching tackle by the Maidstone 10....
Scrum down, near to the Farnham try line....
Take 2....
Farnham continued to defend hard leading to another scrum Farnham got the ball away....
Farnham tackling hard to keep Maidenhead at bay....Great rucking from Eliza

Maidenhead battles on brilliant tackle by Farnham leading to Sharae to run hard with the ball pushing forward for Farnham....Unfortunately a knock stopped play....
Charlotte A back on
Girls took the kick and pushed hard up the line....
Second touch and savannah made ground... Farnham pushing
Thrown in from Maidenhead...
They push forward their number 10 leading the way, Farnham got the ball again, but no 10 incepted for another try....and conversion
Final score 50-12
Maidenhead showed great sportsmanship to the girls...

Factors to consider and learn from
New team Bigger pitches New positions Confidence.....All this to be built on

Overall comments
Goal line defence was amazing in 2nd half, Really brave
Great running
Hitting rucks
Great driving Tackling on point

Venue
Free parking on a Sunday in sports centre Good choice on coffee
Chips smelt good too
Decent size bar

Point to note.... No trainers on Astro pitch studs only..... they looked at my dainty feet and I immediately got ejected off the side line....
They are only going to get better !!

Thanks to Jo A for her first ever match report!