Under 18:
Glos U18 5 Herts U18 12 (Alice Finn
Welwyn Tx1, Courtney Arberry
Welwyn Tx1, Hannah Gallagher
Welwyn C x1).
Glos made an impressive start to the game and displayed excellent forward skills, dominating the scrum, rucks and mauls. Herts defended well playing up the slope, but with the game being played well inside the Herts half, the Gloucester forwards eventually broke through from close range to score the first try of the game. Herts made a number of breaks deep into Gloucestershire territory, but just could not find the final pass to score. The half-time team talk and the introduction of Frankie Dawson resulted in much more aggressive forward play from Herts with the scrum being more evenly matched. Herts were now enjoying more possession and territory and the backs began to test the Gloucester defence with good runs from Chloe Baker and Georgia Peedle. Mid-way through the second half, Gloucester attacked from defence but trademark stealing of the ball by Sam Voyle at the breakdown enabled the back line to put Alice Finn in space. She showed good pace to get to the corner and level the scores at 5 points all. Herts piled on the pressure in the final quarter of the game and it was Gloucester’s turn to hang on in defence. The back-row were now leading the way with charges by Frankie Dawson, but it was Courtney Arberry who drove over from close quarters to put Herts into the lead. Hannah Gallagher converted and Herts won with a scoreline of 12-5.
Somerset U18 0 Herts U18 10 (Hannah Gallagher
Welwyn Tx1, Alice Finn
Welwyn T x1).
This game looked like another forward battle with the Herts new shape front row and back row to the fore. Herts lineout was also functioning well with Jess Robinson in good form all afternoon. But the game was dramatically changed by a brilliant individual run by Hannah Gallagher who beat numerous players in a run from the half way line to score the opening try. The second try came shortly afterwards as a result of good team pressure on the Somerset back line. From a Somerset mistake the ball was passed to Alice Finn who again showed good pace to score the second try and make the score 10-0. It looked like Herts might run away with the game but great credit to Somerset who battled hard. Several final attacks by Herts were foiled by good defence and the final scoreline remained at 10-0.
Under 15:
Glos U15 15 Herts U15 0.
Somerset 19 Herts U15 10 (Lotte Clapp
Welwyn Tx2).
