BASINGSTOKE RFC’s showcase of girls’ rugby proved to be a great success as nearly 80 were involved in the day.

The under-13 Pitch Up and Play proved an outstanding success, involving 40 under-13s from all over the south of England, including Berkshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

The event was supported by the RFU in the shape of Claire Cooper, the rugby development officer for the south of England, and Dean Lewis, community rugby coach for south Hampshire.

They were helped by a very enthusiastic set of accompanying coaches and first aiders from the Basingstoke club.

The whole afternoon proved to be brilliant and loads of fun for the girls, with some exceptional rugby talent on view.

The girls came together for a warm-up before spending 40 minutes learning or sharpening their skills in tackling, passing from the back of the scrum, support play and game sense and launching into a festival of seven-a-side games over the next hour.

It was such a success that the club are now looking to organise another in March, which will be bigger and even better.

Organiser Russell Amos said: “I would like to thank everyone who gave up their afternoon to make the event such a fantastic success.”

Meanwhile, on the pitch next door, the under-18s played a league game against Berkshire Baa Baas, basically the Berkshire county side, and lost 31-10.

However, the team continue to improve week-by-week and their discipline was impeccable.

Amos wrote to thank the Hants Society referee and was delighted to hear he had thoroughly enjoyed the game.

“The girls are a credit to themselves and their coaches,” wrote the referee.

Basingstoke may have lost the game, but they scored two excellent tries which could have graced the Women’s Premiership.

The second try in particular involved many players and ended with the try scorer supported by four players as she went over the line.

The under-15 girls had a training day as their opposition sadly had to cancel at the last minute.

Training time for girls’ rugby at Down Grange is from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday afternoons at Basingstoke RFC.

All are welcome at under-13s, from school Year 6 (age 10) to Year 8, under-15s, school Year 9 and Year 10 and under-18s school Year 11 to College Year 2.

For more details, contact Russell Amos or his wife, Michele (girls’ coach), on maddog.amos@virgin.net or 07884 271543.