Vixen U15s v Norwich /Beccles/Sudbury

Vixens U15s v Norwich/Beccles/Sudbury Cluster Feb 2nd

Last week the girls played some of the best rugby they have ever played. We try to be positive in match reports, but the best that can be said is that everybody can have an off day, and today, was definitely an off day. the wet sticky pitch and ball not helping.
2 games were played. In the first, the Vixens teamed up with some Sudbury girls to play Norwich, Beccles and the rest of the Sudbury team. The coaches call was to focus on moving the ball. Whilst the conditions made that a bit tricky, the start didn't bode well - a lot of bunching, dropped passes and a general lack of getting stuck in. At last the ball started to go down the line, and Erin made a break, passing to Savanah who ran half the length of the field to score. The opposition then had a period of pressure, a missed pass was picked up and Norwich made it 5 all, and converted. 5 - 7. Norwich scored next, by passing the ball slickly down the line allowing their winger to outflank the defence. Also converted. 5 - 12.
A good penalty kick to touch by Megan, then we moved the ball down the line from the line out, and a Sudbury girl scored for us. Phoebe converted from some way out, to make the score 10 - 14. Norwich were getting the ball down their line better than us, and it took a tremendous cover tackle by Scarlett to prevent a try. As the game drew to a close there were signs of more cohesion, but time ran out before the Vixens could manufacture a score.
For the second game Norwich and Beccles players joined Diss to play Sudbury and some Norwich players. It remains a mystery why the Vixens regularly perform badly against Sudbury, but this was perhaps the worst they have played for ages. The spirit could be seen draining out of the girls who were throwing loose passes or not passing at all, dropping the ball, tackling half heartedly, not rucking properly, walking back into position, and towards the end sadly, bickering amongst themselves. The final score was 0 - 32. Frankly the less said, the better.
There were 2 notable exceptions to the lethargy shown. Morgan was noted by Leon to be trying her socks off all game, and making a number of good tackles. Scarlett also kept up her intensity all day, doing a lot of the unsung work, and at least once chasing back to make a try saving tackle. She isn't a showy player but does the hard work, not always seen, and can perhaps count herself unlucky not to have been spotted by the Eastern Counties coaches. Leon decided that Morgan and Scarlett should be joint POMs today.

David Miller