The Ladies team relaxing off the pitch after a hard game

Christina Aitchison  on the charge for one of her 8 tries in Barnes Ladies 76 - 0 romp against Lewes at Barn Elms on 17th Feb 2008

Barnes RFC Ladies XV

20th April

The ladies won 14-12 at 'home' (i.e. at Imber Court) to Basingstoke. This match was rearranged due to Basingstoke cancelling earlier in the season.  Barnes were unable to field a full 15 due to absences, illness and injury for the first time this season. Undaunted, and ably captained by stand-in skipper, Cerys, they played 13 a side on Imber Court's huge 1st XV pitch.

Barnes enjoyed the majority of the possession, scoring two tries in the first half through (who else?) Christina Atchison, both converted by Helen Kirkcaldy. Basingstoke hit back in the second half with two break away tries, only one of which they could convert. Barnes threatened to close the game out on several occasions but were unable to do so and had to rely on some gritty defence in the last minutes to keep Basingstoke out.

29th March

The Ladies won 7-5 at home to Bracknell yesterday. Barnes Ladies applied pressure on Bracknell from the kick off and spent the majority of the half camped in Bracknell's half but failed to convert any of the pressure into points against a well organised defensive system. After 25 minutes, Bracknell applied the boot to clear and forced Barnes into making an error in their own 22, leading to a Bracknell scrum from which a well worked back row move on the blindside resulted in a try for their winger in the corner. Bracknell were unsuccessful in converting.

Barnes immediately hit back following the restart and a great break from Stephanie Kirby down the right wing forced Bracknell to make a desperate last ditch high tackle. From the resulting penalty, the Barnes forwards took the ball in and recycled allowing the backs to use quick hands down the line to Christina Atchison who used her pace to evade the defence and score under the posts. Stephanie Kirby converted.

The second half was more evenly matched in terms of possession but some great defence from Barnes allowed them to weather  a sustained 10 minute attacking period from Bracknell. With the ball in hand once again, Barnes should have scored more tries, but having only played one game since Christmas, their rustiness showed and too many loose passes and offloads meant that the points didn't come.

The result leaves Barnes in 4th place, with 3 games to play.

1st March 2008

Barnes Ladies lost away 10-24 to Teddington Antlers, the league leaders. Teddington went 4 tries up in the first half before Barnes responded with two great individual tries early in the second half by Steph from the wing. Barnes displayed a steady performance in the set-piece and at the breakdown but were slow, particularly in the first half, to close down Teddington's talented set of backs. The result leaves Barnes in 4th place in the league, with a game in hand over the top 2 teams.

16th Feb 2008

Barnes Ladies returned to winning ways and found their running game on Sunday in a 12 try 76-0 demolition of Lewes. Outside centre Christina Aitchison was not surprisingly named player of the match after crossing the line eight times. Other tries were scored by Cerys Morgan (2), Corry Kamara and Steph Kirby with Lucy Jackson adding 7 conversions.

19th January 2008

The Ladies lost narrowly 12  - 7 away to Guildford. We suffered from post-Christmas rustiness having not played last week, unlike our opposition, and allowed them to score twice out wide in the first half before switching on a bit in the second, resulting in a try scored by Christina Atchison and converted by Lucy Jackson with 15 minutes still to go. Sadly, despite enjoying the vast majority of possession for the remainder of the match, we were unable to breach Guildford's defence again.