March report

If anybody asked Father Christmas for a great start to the season after the holidays, the big man delivered!

After a home defeat to East London in our last encounter, and being a player down, I’m sure the 18 players that East London did have weren’t expecting such a fight from us. Who lit such a rocket under us? Barnes were quick off the mark with an early try from our resident speed queen, Em. Her insistence of the fact that wearing the number 5 jersey despite being on the wing, due to the fact that we always win when she’s wearing it, seemed to be paying off as she was in for another try right under the posts not too long after. It was only a ‘lucky’ interception from the East London scrum half that got them their only try of the first half bringing the half time score to 12-5 to Barnes.

It can’t be said that East London didn’t play well, Barnes were just on another level. Working hard to make every tackle, the forwards kept the East London ladies from advancing and were soon frustrating their pack creating a lot of turn over ball for us. There was some consistent and slick passing from the backs making the simple drills work. This created an opportunity for Em to get her hat trick (5 tries next game, right?).

Barnes kept the pressure on in the second half with a typical pocket rocket try from Fran and a graceful dive/collapse over the line for al capitaino, Gramps. East London are probably losing sleep over the fact that they were denied a try (I’m sure everyone watching from the side lines were sure those 5 points were theirs) in the second half, due to a Hollywood ending thanks to Laura’s try saving tackle. I say Hollywood ending as it honestly could’ve been that scene in a movie when you think the opposition will score and ruin the happy ending, but at the last minute the hero pulls through. Not a surprise she got back of the match. Forward of the match went to Rosie for yet again showing how committed she is to each tackle and taking a blow to the nose like a champ. Final score 27-17 to Barnes!

However special mention must be made to the team as a whole. Against all odds and after only one training session since the start of the New Year, we played together like a well oiled South African team. And how lucky are we to have Lorraine back?! That is a rhetorical question. Now to keep this momentum going and carrying on believing in ourselves!