Northern girls rugby lacks regular competitive games , what it doesn’t lack is skill, grit , determination and a willingness to play anywhere on the pitch and travel 200 miles to do it and receive a warm welcome when you get there.
Anyone unsure of that should have been at Medicals RFC in Newcastle on Sunday to watch Northumberland take on unbeaten Lancashire.
After a long journey the last thing the red Roses wanted was to crash headlong into a very fast and physical Northumberland side , no one on either side took a backward step and a 10 minute arm wrestle for territory and ball with Captain Sally Stott leading a pack of both experienced and new players outstanding in her leadership as was Lydia Cowell in her constant tackling.
The new second row combination of Ellie and Steff must have thought they had walked into a war zone but stood their ground and have both taken huge strides forward, fortunately the experienced Saffi Clay , Claudia Dowdswell , Amy Stanley who suffered another injury fortunately she is OK and Lydia Hughes put in great work to maintain a Nil score line.
Whilst Lancs have always had a fast mobile pack, there is always a huge threat from their magical backs, Holly, Emma and Alisha are virtually unstoppable...how do you know which way to go when they don’t...they just go.....Woosey is a Rocket, Katie Purcell can run in 100 meter tries, even though she looks shocked, you still have to fit in the scouse mouse and Amy H to a backs division that gives everyone the shivers.
The score line does not do justice to a brave and aggressive Northumberland side, whose heads never dropped, or tackles never weakened, they were justly rewarded with a try and by the compliments of their opposition.
So enjoyable was the game , so physical was the contact , so fair were both the players and supporters......... both sides are right up for a rematch....don’t think it gets better than that...