Barnes Ladies 14 - East London 24

Sidney Littlewood once said: “The Irish don't know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it.” This doesn’t have much significance to the match report, but I thought that since it was our last match with Lorraine, I would put a slightly Irish theme to it.
What was known on Sunday, 12th October, was that it was to be a game to remember, regardless of the outcome. With Barnes lying third on the league table after back to back wins, we were eager to continue with this success. We were off to a positive start when nobody slipped on the ice rink type surface outside the changing rooms…nobody from the opposition did either and you can take that as a positive or a negative.
Our opponents were East London and the current leaders of the league so we knew our task was not to be an easy one. Never-the-less, the game got off to a dream start with an early try by our resident pocket rocket, Fran. East London fought back though and soon the score was 7-5 to Barnes. It wasn’t long however until the ball was being passed down the line (thanks to some excellent contested, YES CONTESTED, scrumming by the forwards) and Fran was in for another beaut right under the posts making the conversion a simple one. 14-5 to Barnes! It was with some great technique though that saw East London reciprocate with another try of their own to bring the half time score to 14-10 with Barnes just in the lead.
East London showed why they are the top of the league table with some consistent runs which soon paid off. The strength and rather surprising speed of their number 3 saw her bulldozer her away over the try line. I am proud to report though that each of their two tries in the second half had to be worked for with some brilliant defence by Barnes, namely in the forwards. Final score: 24-14 to East London. Particular mention must be made to Rosie for her fierce tackles and commitment which won her forward of the match (even if she did look like Fagan from Oliver when she took off her scrum cap) and Sarah for yet again proving why her position as full back is so crucial with some try saving tackles and great runs of her own, to which she earned herself back of the match. Alas, if downing her pint were a required skill, she’d fall slightly short. Wait, downing a pint is a required skill in rugby!
This paragraph has been reserved to praise the immense work and first contested scrum in a long time by the forwards. Well done to Bethen, Tori, Frenchie, Rosie, Lorraine and Gramps. You guys smashed it!
It was an emotional game for Barnes as it meant the last for one of our IRE members, Lorraine. She is off back to the mother land in a horse box and it’s no secret that she will be greatly missed, on and off the pitch. Her dedication to the game and vocal strengths ‘COME ON!’ (and vocal weaknesses…it’s ‘through’ not ‘trou’) will be forever remembered as a great asset to our team.