Double delight for girls rugby team (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Double delight for girls rugby team

12:00pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Sport

BASINGSTOKE RFC’s girls teams enjoyed a winning double away at South Sussex Baa Baas, with both the under-18 and under-15 teams claiming victory.

Both sides travelled to Worthing for the matches and had to overcome both the opposition and some challenging conditions to claim victory. The under-18s won 36-12, while the under-15s did even better, claiming an excellent 65-5 victory.

The under-18s went behind to an early converted try but fought back strongly to lead 22-7 by half-time, dominating up front despite being faced by a far bigger pack.

Having gone behind, Basingstoke hit straight back when prop Philippa Abernethy burst down the left wing before passing inside for second row Kirsty Sayers to score.

They took the lead when a succession of rucks in the Sussex 22 led to a try for fly-half Alex Clay before back-row forward Zoe Barber broke several tackles to score under the posts, with Becca Cottam adding the conversion.

Fran Hall completed the first-half scoring from the back row, running strongly from deep to touch down, and more tries followed after the break.

Clay got the first, touching down after a great breakaway, Cottam adding the extras, while scrum-half Kate Wilderspin all but secured the win with her side’s sixth try, Cottam converting to make it 36-7.

The hosts claimed a late try to make the final score 36-12, and went close again near the end, great defence from ’Stoke holding them up over the line.

The under-15 boys team travelled to Twickenham, emerging 19-7 winners at the end of a tight encounter.

Charlie Stoner, Ben Wright and Toby Cecil got the visitors’ tries, with Callum Donnelly kicking two conversions, Twickenham scoring one converted try in reply.

Adam Angell scored a hat-trick of tries as the senior third string claimed a 36-0 victory away at Eastleigh II.

The winger crossed the line three times during the comprehensive win, while centre Junior Korobiau bagged a brace of tries. Basingstoke’s other scorer was Dom Junior, while Dan Williams kicked three conversions.

The fourth string did not fare so well, losing 57-6 away at Millbrook, with Dave Wright kicking two penalties to score their only points.