The Epping girls arrived at the Auld Enemy Harlow’s ground with a determined attitude.
They knew this was an important psychological point in their development, having had some close results in the past.
A strong starting XV, with a competent bench of finishers had the majority crowd of Epping supporters buzzing.

The game kicked off with Harlow gaining possession and trucking the ball up the middle with their big Centre's carrying well.
However, despite the size of their opposite numbers, the Thornwood girls didn’t shirk those defensive responsibilities, and hit hard, driving the Harlow players backwards in contact. Original Hurley took a knock to the head on the floor, which almost dislodged an eyelash, so she was temporarily subbed for Kerrie.

It was all Harlow could do to ship the ball left and right but they weren’t making much headway, and eventually the turnover came from a trademark thunderous tackle from Shammah and Kiera jackled over to steal the ball.
BK took the ball and then a pop pass to a charging Anna and she broke the line to make metres and force Harlow onto the back foot.

Anna was brought down near the halfway line and quickly engulfed by our supporting Forwards to secure the ruck.
Quick ball from Scrum-half Donna out to Ella and all the way down the line via Mel, then Emma at pace to Ella D who deftly tipped it on to a screaming Full-back Millie on the outside.

Ball in two hands, she stepped the flailing Harlow winger, burst through the tackle of the Full Back and dropped over the line for the first score out wide.
The conversion proved too far, so the score stayed at 0-5

From the restart, Harlow managed to regain possession owing to some handling errors from Epping and partly from some very strange calls from the referee at the breakdown.
However, the now infamous ‘Wall of Noise’ defensive line and monstrous tackles from our girls kept the opposition at bay and with a high tackle giving Harlow a further penalty on our 22, the opposition decided there was with no hope of getting over the line, so they opted to kick for the posts.

The kick was taken, but failed to make the distance, hitting the crossbar and bouncing back into the field of play, straight into the arms of a grateful Mel, who immediately turned and sprinted straight out of our 22 through the shocked Harlow line, being brought down by the Full back near the Epping 10m line.

Slower ball this time while everyone re-grouped and then suddenly a gazelle-like Nina burst through the line near halfway and set off directly for the posts.
With the biggest smile on her face, she ran as hard as she could and was unluckly not to make it all the way, being tackled by 2 covering players converging on her.
However, the Epping players were quick to react and Donna scooped up the ball and made more ground, before being taken down.
Another lightening quick pick up from supporting flanker India to almost get over, but she was just held out.
By now the bottom corner of the pitch was being flooded by supporting Epping players and the pressure told when Ella managed to go over in the corner.

Again the conversion was just too far for Millie, so the score remained at 0-10 and the ref blew for half time.

The team gathered in the middle and the coaches made the substitutions.
On came Rotty for BK, Kerrie for Original Hurley, and Jess for Nina.

From the outset of the second half, it was clear Epping’s mindset was strong.
Despite some totally unnecessary off the ball provocations and almost constant appealing and whining to the ref from Harlow, the Epping girls stayed focused, didn’t rise the bait, and just did what they do.

Much smaller players like Donna, India & Kerrie, hit much bigger players and drove them back.
Seasoned players like pack leader Alexa & No8 Kiera dominated their opposition who thought they had half a chance, but were proven wrong time and time again. BJ was playing like she’d had an epiphany and believed in herself totally, and Rotty was having ‘Rotty fun’ smashing anyone in front of her.

With no change in pace, Epping won possession once again and began the now familiar procession up the pitch.
Once the space has been created out wide, by the forwards doing their work, the ball was spun out through the center's to a charging Shammah who had already stopped 2 tries with her defence, and was now intent on getting one of her own.
By no means an easy run in, she used deft footwork to avoid tacklers and the touchline to dot down in the corner for Epping’s third try

Millie was practically growling that she’d prefer an easier kick next time, just for once, and unfortunately this one also proved just too far out for her.
Score now 0-15.

Shammah had taken a blow to the face scoring her try, resulting in a bloody nose, so on came Alicia to replace her.
Larry came on for India, and NotChloe came on for Anna.
Aisling also replaced Mel, (who’d taken a knock to the face, and will now be nicknamed Popeye)

With the Harlow team now throwing insults around freely, the Thornwood girls showed their class and just got on with the job.
The Backs went through a move that they’d only learnt on Friday’s training session and had the Harlow team spinning around in circles, when the ball was popped to Emma who ran in and around under the posts.

With her Gangsta-style celebration done, the girls engulfed her and knew they’d done the job.
Just a simple chip over the bar for Millie, from where she’d been asking for it all game right?
Er…….no actually! Some VERY unsportsmanlike behaviour from the opposition and the dying last breath of wind from storm Ciaran forced the simplest kick of the game to miss.
So the score remained at 0-20

Soon after the ref blew for full time and the celebrations began.

Words are simply not enough to convey the spirit of this team, you need to see them play and experience their joy.
A tighter, happier, more bonded team you will struggle find.
These girls play for each other because they love each other.

Best Forward went to India who was just immense.
Best Back went to Donna, who not only tackled everything in front of her, and distributed well, but kept her emotions in check all week and throughout the game to lead this team to this victory.
(Right up until the talk at the end, when she cried like a baby)!!

MVDT