On a bright spring afternoon, under the warmth of the sun and in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd, Welwyn U16 Girls took to the field for what would prove to be a match of the finest margins. And there was no finer margin than this game.

Welwyn started brightly, controlling possession and applying early pressure against a ferocious and well-organised Dartfordians defence. It wasn’t long before our wiry and dynamic scrum-half, Tegan, scampered over the try line to open the scoring with a well-taken effort. Welwyn continued to dominate possession, probing for openings, but Dartfordians were clinical at the breakdown, denying Welwyn much time on the ball and making every contest a fierce battle.

Despite the defensive pressure, Welwyn kept pushing, and Grace demonstrated her keen defensive instincts, intercepting a pass and sprinting away to score under the posts, a moment of brilliance that lifted the entire team. A superbly executed move between the forwards and backs showcased Welwyn’s cohesion and vision, creating the perfect opening for Grace to time her run off the blind wing. Exploiting the space brilliantly, she powered over the line to score her second try, capping off a fantastic display of teamwork and attacking flair.

However, the second half presented new challenges. Playing up the hill, Welwyn found themselves engaged in an energy-sapping defensive effort against Dartfordians' physical pod game. With only three substitutes available due to unavoidable circumstances, every player had to dig deep, and they did so with immense determination. The whole squad gave everything, producing some outstanding individual performances as well as a fantastic collective effort that the coaching staff were incredibly proud of.

As the clock ticked down, Welwyn continued to fight their way back into contention, showing resilience and heart. But the relentless pressure from Dartfordians, coupled with the sheer physical toll of their intense defence, proved decisive in the final moments. A few different decisions on the day and things might have been different, but there was no faulting the commitment, courage, and effort of the Welwyn girls.

Final score 26-19
Photos of the game

A huge thank you to Dartfordians for their hospitality and for providing such a competitive fixture amd we wish them luck in their semi-final. For the neutral, this game was a brilliant advertisement for U16 girls’ rugby—fast, physical, and fiercely contested. While the result may not have gone our way, the experience of competing at such a high level, under the spring sunshine and in front of an appreciative crowd, was one to be proud of.

On to the next challenge!