National cup regional 1/4 final Vixen U18s v Hitchin

Match Report
Diss Rfc Vixens U18s v Hitchin 12/1/20

It’s the regional 1/4 final of the National cup playing Hitchin a side we’ve not met before.
From the kick off it’s apparent that both teams have turned up with game heads firmly in place & the game starts at a frantic pace, the Diss Girls throwing everything at the opposition gain ground slowly but Hitchin make them work for every metre.
Around the 10 minute mark Diss break through with Megan finding space offloading to Niamh who dashes over the line & round behind the posts, with extras added Diss 7 Hitchin 0.
This lead is to be short lived however with Hitchin hammering at the Diss Girls defence & exploiting a gap slide through & over the line no extras Diss 7 Hitchin 5
The Diss Girls although battling hard are being beaten to the breakdown allowing Hitchin to retain the ball & put the Diss defence under pressure despite holding up one incursion over the line the pressure is to great & Hitchin cross again again no extras Diss 7 Hitchin 10.
This 2nd try rocks the Diss Girls & the next 5/10 minutes are scrappy with the Diss Girls trapped in or around their own 22 seemingly unable to find a way out, wave after wave of attacks are soaked up with the crowd now wondering how long these girls can keep up the pace this game is being played at,tackles fly, rucks are fiercely contested bodies are put on the line time & again. Hitchin have injuries the Diss Girls & I don’t know how!! although battered somehow regain their feet time & again to valiantly defend their line. With half time approaching Hitchin score again this time adding extras Diss 7 Hitchin 17
Still in the fight Diss rally & fight back now in the Hitchin half & looking for points,alas it’s not to be as they are cut down by a solid Hitchin defence.
Half time both sides take a well earned breather, surely they can’t keep this pace for another half!! Actually they can & do, both sides guilty of handling errors & an odd missed tackle Diss again can’t quite get a handle on the breakdown with Hitchin lightning quick over the ball. Despite this Diss battle on & with a huge effort find themselves metres from the line still being battered Bethany manages to crash through & over the line no extras Diss 12 Hitchin 17
Hitchin now find themselves having to soak up the Diss attacks but a few small errors cost the girls & then dealt a cruel blow camped in the Hitchin 22 there’s a fumble & the Hitchin winger screams off with the ball & goes all the way! Diss 12 Hitchin 22
With another added shortly after & despite the Diss girls fighting to the last second of the game it was not to be their day final score Diss 12 Hitchin 27.
So our run in the National cup comes to an end.This has been one of the toughest matches the Diss U18s have played in & each & every one of them should hold their heads up with pride in games like these we learn more than easier fixtures if we’re honest speed at the breakdown was our biggest down fall today, something we can work on to improve. But to play a game at that pace with that intensity shows the strength of character these girls have.I know I speak for all of the coaches when I say how proud we all are of you & we salute you for the titanic effort you all put in.
Well done Girls ??????????
Our team
Beth,Alex,Steph,Kirsty Murran,Poppy,Sophia Sophie,Amie,Megan,Ella,Ruby, Niamh,Evie,Ellie,Ezme,Lorna,Shauna