2007-2008  |  2006-2007  |  2005-2006  |  2004-2005

RFUW Championship North 2

2007-2008

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
A.K.	10	10	0	0	503	42	461	49
Sheffield	10	7	0	3	187	121	66	32
York RI	10	5	0	5	237	274	-37	24
Preston Grasshoppers	10	5	0	5	106	268	-162	23
Scunthorpe	10	3	0	7	93	212	-119	14
Leigh	10	0	0	10	47	256	-209	2

Scorers

Player	Try	Pen	Conv	Pts
Tasha	32	0	0	160
Pam	10	0	39	128
Anna	7	0	0	35
Rhino	7	0	0	35
Kitty	6	0	0	30
Becky H.	5	0	0	25
Bessie	3	0	0	15
Lorna	3	0	0	15
Spud	3	0	0	15
Rachel S.	2	0	0	10
Ceri	1	0	0	5
Elaine V.	1	0	0	5
Emma B.	1	0	0	5
Helen L.	1	0	0	5
Julia	1	0	0	5
Little Un'	1	0	0	5
Stella	1	0	0	5

Kersal   7 - 29   Loughborough

Playoff

27 April 2008

There have been soooo many bizarre combinations of words used over the years in attempts to paint a picture for you of the exploits of AK women's rugby, that Dave Gorman's Googlewhack book could have been expanded by several volumes. But even the combined might of a hypothetical Olympic scrabble team would have failed to briefly summarise the extraordinary events of this Super Play-off Sunday.
Having managed to scrape together more than 15 players (Kendo out of retirement, and Fi out of whatever dirty University she's lurking in these days) Spud must have looked at her squad and marvelled that a less homogeneous group of ladies would exist in the world. All it needed was a Bessie, returned from Kosovo (or Mongolia or wherever the hell she went) standing there with a Kalashnikov rifle and chewing on some kind of vegetarian sausage, to make the scene complete.
As usual, the day started with a trip on the mystery tour bus. Having managed to point the bus in the general easterly direction of Burton-upon-Trent (rather than west to Ffestiniog) the ladies were still treated to an unexpected detour to the pooh-smelling incinerator at Stoke. Other notable landmarks successfully negotiated en-route included Alton Towers, Uttoxeter race course, the Nestle factory, and most challenging of all: the Coors factory. As the coach crossed into the National Forest (an area surprisingly devoid of trees) the sky began to clear, the sun shone down, and the heat increased to a point where lepidopterists would have been digging out their nets and wiping their sweaty palms. Not conditions best suited for fast rugby however.

More to come...

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Ninja, Pam
Try Scorers: Tasha
Conversions: Pam (1 conv)
Team: 1- Katy, 2- Ninja, 3- Stella, 4- Helen L., 5- Becky N., 6- Kate M., 7- Spud, 8- Anna, 9- Rachel S., 10- Pam, 11- Alice, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Helen M., 15- Tasha, 16- Fi, 17- Kendo, 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Kersal   75 - 0   Preston Grasshoppers

League

05 April 2008

Had the gods been angered? Had a haruspex forseen doom in the entrails of a guinea fowl? Had the spirits of the land confused his mind and forced him upon a different path? What other reasons could there be for the webmaster to be banished to the far sideline to serve penance as touch judge? For the crowning glory of this season's league campaign he looked a sorry figure alone in the wilderness. On the flip side, at least he doesn't take 87 seconds to down a pint. Oh yes Pamanoid, we're looking at you kid! It took Pam almost as long to finish her player of the match pint as it did for Kersal to receive the opening kick-off and score their first try. The word is DOWN Pam not sip, gargle, or slurp (quaffing may have been allowed but it's a bit of a waste).
On a day when Becky Hewson was showing off her Terminator-style wrist scar, Kersal put on a magnificent show to finish their league season unbeaten and racked up 75 un-answered points. A quite astonishing tally of 7 tries by Tasha reflected not only on her undoubted talent, but on the quality of the rest of the team's build-up play, control of the game, and support for the ball carrier.

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Rhino, Pam
Try Scorers: Tasha 7, Rhino 2, Pam 2, Kitty, Elaine
Conversions: Pam (5 convs)
Team: 1- Ninja, 2- Manue, 3- Stella, 4- Helen L., 5- Becky N., 6- Spud, 7- Ali, 8- Anna, 9- Elaine, 10- Pam, 11- Rachel, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Helen M., 15- Tasha, 16- Lorna, 17- Alice, 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Hartlepool   27 - 5   Kersal

Friendly

29 March 2008

I wasn't there to see this one, but apparently the girls went up with 11 players, borrowed 2 more, and acquitted themselves well against higher league opposition. Anyone wishing to submit a full match report for this one is more than welcome. Entries to the webmaster email address, or post it on the Forum.

Captain:
Player(s) of Match:
Try Scorers:
Conversions:
Team: 1- , 2- , 3- , 4- , 5- , 6- , 7- , 8- , 9- , 10- , 11- , 12- , 13- , 14- , 15- , 16- , 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Kersal   43 - 17   Sheffield

League

17 February 2008

In what turned out to be a bitter-sweet day for Kersal this Sunday it was fitting that Captain (Spud) and Vice Captain (Becky) joined together to be the power-house driving force in the second row. Their combined determination this season has seen Kersal become the dominant force in the league; being unbeaten in all games home and away. Bright blue skies and not a breath of wind gave perfect playing conditions for the game which would see Kersal officially become league champions.
Sheffield, arguably the best of the rest of the teams in North 2, were in no mood to be run over and the game turned out to be one of the most evenly matched this season. The first half was a thriller: Rhino got AK off to a great start and a scything run, 8 minutes in, right through the centre of the Sheffield defense saw her touch down between the posts for Pam to convert. Sheffield were having none of it though, and their consistently impressive back line quickly had them down on AK's try line to score their first try of the game (unconverted) five minutes later. With the Kersal pack finding it difficult to dominate the scrums, and the backs busy trying to contain the Sheffield centres, it wasn't until Tasha got the ball and that little chink of space that the next try was scored (unconverted). Again Sheffield refused to back down and for the next 15 minutes camped inside the AK twentytwo and despite being held up over the line twice finally managed to get their second try (unconverted). The pendulum swung again and Kersal drove their way back up the pitch and in the last few minutes of the half it was Becky [on her birthday - Ed] who finished off a fine forwards effort to drive over the line. 17-10 at the break to the home team, but the fans were not convinced this one was in the bag yet.
Spud on the other hand knew exactly what still had to be done, and obviously conveyed the point to her team during the interval. Tasha was given the ball early in the second half and promptly scooted around the Sheffield defense to score (converted) and give AK a more comfortable gap. The game slowed down for the next 15 minutes as the teams tried to gain the upper hand. It was then that Becky, in one of her trademark charges fell awkwardly as she offloaded in the tackle. It seemed inoccuous to those on the sidelines, but as Becky trudged off the pitch it was obvious to all that ones wrist certainly should not look like that. Spud seemed to take the incident personally and only a couple of minutes later dove over the Sheffield line to score a try of her own. [You could almost imagine her shouting Whoopah! as she did so - Ed]. Pam duly converted and it was then that you could see the Sheffield shoulders sag. Further tries for Tasha and Pam were countered by a last minute consolation try for Sheffield as AK's complacency tripped in.
The final score of 43-17 was a fair reflection of Kersal's dominance this season although it doesn't do Sheffield enough credit for their display in this game. In a game where the number of scrums was being recorded for a sweepstake (24 for the record) it was notable that the number of penalties was almost twice that. Both teams were constantly penalised for infringements in the ruck and how no-one was yellow-carded is anyones guess.
After the final whistle Kersal danced and sang in a shower of champagne, safe in the knowledge that the league title was theirs and level 2 rugby would be next season's challenge. Preston at home on the 2nd March will be the season closer. Undoubtedly there will be Sambucas to follow!
p.s. Becky, hope the morphine brightened up your birthday a little?

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Spud, Kitty
Try Scorers: Rhino, Tasha (3), Becky H., Spud, Pam
Conversions: Pam (4 convs)
Team: 1- Stella, 2- Ninja, 3- Bessie, 4- Spud, 5- Becky H., 6- Ali, 7- Manue, 8- Anna, 9- Rachel, 10- Pam, 11- Elaine, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Helen, 15- Tasha, 16- Alice, 17- Emma B., 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Scunthorpe   0 - 33   Kersal

League

13 January 2008

With the possibility of Altrincham Kersal's Women's Rugby team clinching the league title and promotion to level 2 rugby this Sunday, AK's Manager of Rugby agreed to splash out and booked a coach (and driver) for the trip to Scunthorpe. Would someone please explain to him why a 16-seater was not quite large enough? The fan club, once over its dissapointment of not being able to travel with the team, gathered up the rest of the players and headed out towards Lincolnshire. The bright blue skies over Manchester were soon replaced by the dim greyness and biting winds usually associated with the M62 as it enters Yorkshire, and light drizzle joined in as we approached Scunthorpe.
On arriving at the ground the players were duly deposited and the fans scarpered off down the road to play a new game of 'Pubs on a Roundabout: How Good is Yours?'. A roast beef dinner, a few lunch bites, and the odd pint or two saw the fans suitable replenished and well up for the 100yd dash back to the club in time for kickoff.
As with the game against York RI last week, Kersal got off to a flyer in this game with Pam scoring the first of her hat-trick of tries after just 5 minutes. This time around though Kersal did not go to sleep, and despite Scunthorpe being a much more coherent team than York, they were unable to assert continued pressure on the Kersal try line. After 12 minutes Kersal attempted a rare penalty kick at goal, but the gods looked down unfavourably upon them and not only did the ball come back of the post, but there was to be no more scoring until well into the second half. A Scunthorpe prop was sin-binned after half an hour [we think for persistently failing to retreat 10 yards after a penalty - Ed] but Kersal were unable to make that advantage pay and it was a nervy 5-0 lead at the break.
Whereas in previous seasons Kersal may have had difficulty in closing out a game like this, this season they have shown remarkable resilience and endeavour, and as Scunthorpe finally began to tire the Kersal team found new inspiration ["Do it for the monkey"] and in the last 15 minutes managed to score four converted tries without reply (and had two more held up over the line). It wasn't clear if the Zoo Keeper's menagerie were an inspiration or a distraction, but all the animals seemed to have a great time.
Rare praise will go to Scunthorpe this time around for proving to be such tough, competitive, and fair opponents (not a charge often levelled against them) and for the friendliness of the natives in the club house. A thoroughly entertaining game which more than made up for the hassle in actually getting there.

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Little Un', Pam
Try Scorers: Pam 3, Anna, Little Un'
Conversions: Pam (4 conv)
Team: 1- Bessie, 2- Ninja, 3- Stella, 4- Helen L., 5- Manue, 6- Spud, 7- Malibu, 8- Anna, 9- Little Un', 10- Pam, 11- Helen, 12- Rhino, 13- Emma B., 14- Alice, 15- Elaine, 16- Katy H., 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Kersal   44 - 7   York RI

League

06 January 2008

An early 1.15pm kickoff under clear skies and dazzling sunshine should have heralded a bright 2008 start for Altrincham Kersal Women's Rugby. Unfortunately the lack of any game since November and the undoubted indulgences over the festive period meant that several of the players wandered around the pitch for the first and last 20 minutes of this game, and barely got much faster in between. Perhaps the disorientation of playing on the 4th team pitch, when the 1st team pitch looked emminently playable, confused them.
The game started brightly enough with Tahsa [totally unemcumbered by any kind of warm-up - Ed] scoring after only a couple of minutes, but then complacency set in and York got a deserved converted try five minutes later. AK's disappointing lack of dynamism, coupled with a shocking case of MDBL (Mysterious Disappearing Back Line) saw the girls struggled to impose themselves on York. However when the backs did manage to free themselves from the duties of rucking and mauling they put together enough phases of play to make sure that the Kersal try line was never seriously threatened again. Tasha, Anna, and Rhino got Kersal's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tries before the break, and Pam, Kitty, and Tasha with 2 more completed the try scoring. Pam converted a couple making the final score 44-7.
The general performance could be put down to post-festive cobwebs, but hopefully AK will give a more rousing display next week away to Scunthorpe in a game which could see them clinch the league title. Snakes on a........?

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Domps, Becky N.
Try Scorers: Tasha 4, Anna, Rhino, Pam, Kitty
Conversions: Pam (2 convs)
Team: 1- Bessie, 2- Ninja, 3- Stella, 4- Helen L., 5- Becky N., 6- Spud, 7- Malibu, 8- Anna, 9- Domps, 10- Pam, 11- Helen, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Emma B., 15- Tasha, 16- Katy H., 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Leigh   0 - 31   Kersal

League

25 November 2007

It wasn't clear if there had been a misunderstanding, or if Our Becky wasn't talking to Our Emma, but the AK forwards adamant refusal to give the ball to the backs saw them out-score Tasha this Sunday by four tries to one.
The first three tries were scored by the Kersal pack: Bessie with the first, Helen Lydon with the second, and Becky Hewson with the third. Pam, having now found the correct colour kicking tee, slotted over all three conversions. It wasn't until injury time at the end of the first half that Tasha finally got the ball in an attacking position to score the backs only try of the game and it seemed she deliberately scored in the corner, as if to accuse Pam of helping the backs in creating their early 21-0 lead.
Half time saw a quite extraordinary event: While most of the AK team huddled in the centre of the pitch (to try and work out what Our Alice said about Our Spud), Lorna was on the sidelines taking part in what could easily be confused with a Formula 1 pit stop. Her entourage were there ready with a change of boots, bottle of water, and advice for the second half. We almost expected to see a fuel hose and someone to wipe her visor.
The rift between forwards and backs was obviously not sorted by the time the second half began. Anna scored a quite bizarre try 10 minutes in as a Leigh player, having taken the ball over her own try line, failed to ground it; so Anna stepped up, took it off her, and put it down for a try. Easy!
The rest of the game was a bit dull. The now tired forwards refusal to give the ball to the backs stopped being funny and led to thirty minutes of pointless grind. 31-0 to Kersal was the final score, but it really should have been more. Perhaps the next game will see the backs deprive the forwards of the ball? Zero knock-ons anybody?

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Helen L., Rhino
Try Scorers: Bessie, Helen L., Becky H., Tasha, Anna
Conversions: Pam (3 convs)
Team: 1- Bessie, 2- Ninja, 3- Helena, 4- Spud, 5- Helen L., 6- Anna, 7- Manue, 8- Becky H., 9- Lorna, 10- Pam, 11- Helen, 12- Rhino, 13- Emma B., 14- Alice, 15- Tasha, 16- Malibu, 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Sheffield   5 - 20   Kersal

League

11 November 2007

Why must it always be so cold when we go to Sheffield? Are the rugby gods against us? The fixture list always seems to have us going there in the colder months, could we not go in September or May? Poor Spaghetti was forced to borrow extra clothing and a car rug to try and keep warm. Last time it was pouring with rain, this time it was the bitter chill. [Next time I will be investing in a Big Slipper - Ed]
With a full team and five (yes that's right 5) substitutes, Kersal were a bit spoilt for choice this week, which was just as well becasue Sheffield were in no mood to be run over like Kersal's previous opponents had been. The game started briskly enough with Kitty, Anna, and Tasha scoring a try apiece in the first twentyfive minutes, but with Pam complaining that the kicking tee was the wrong colour, none of them were converted. It was starting to look comfortable for Kersal, but as the end of the first half approached Sheffield scored an un-converted try of their own to make the score at the break 5-15.
At the start of the second half, and in a desparate bid to get a mention in one of this season's match reports, Ninja picked up the ball from the back of a ruck and drove over the line to touch down. However, much to Ninja's displeasure the ref randomly decided that the ball had been held up and it was a scrum five. Tasha scored a try a minute later but it did nothing to improve Ninj's mood.
Better was to come from our officious official later as after stopping the game for a squint through at the lineout, he went on to criticise Ninj's throwing technique. We didn't think you looked good in yellow either sir, but we didn't stop the game to tell you.
The game rather petered out from then on as Kersal, who were in no real danger of losing the game, sacrificed the possibility of a bonus point in order to give their less experienced players some game time. The third road trip in a row sees Kersal travel to Leigh for their next league game. And that's all I have to say about that.

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Becky H., Kitty
Try Scorers: Kitty, Anna, Tasha 2
Conversions: None
Team: 1- Stella, 2- Ninja, 3- Bessie, 4- Spud, 5- Becky C., 6- Anna, 7- Ali, 8- Becky H., 9- Rachel, 10- Pam, 11- Malibu, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Emma B., 15- Tasha, 16- Domps, 17- EJ, 18- Helena, 19- Helen, 20- Helen L., 21- , 22-

Preston Grasshoppers   0 - 81   Kersal

League

28 October 2007

This weeks guest match reporter: Anna

Illness and alcohol took their toll on the Kersal squad on Sunday, resulting in a team of 10 forwards and 5 backs taking to the pitch to play Preston Grasshoppers. Thankfully the team also managed to provide enough spare kit for new player Alice to sub (she thought she'd just come along to watch!).
It was a sombre start to proceedings, with both teams observing a minuets silence in memory of Sue Garnett, a friend to many of the players on both teams, who sadly passed away earlier in the week. Following this, both teams agreed to play the match in the spirit Sue would have wished, something that everyone stuck to for the full 80 minutes.
It took Kersal a little while to get into their stride, but Pam led the way with some evasive running and a sprint to the line, resulting in a try under the posts, which she duly converted. Buoyed by this lead Kersal started to pile on the pressure. Jules reminded herself and everyone else why she should never have retired from rugby, striking fear into the opposition every time she got the ball, and Becky Hewson made some impressive breaks from the back of the scrum. Unfortunately, Tasha and Lorna demonstrated such electrifying speed that they both ran straight through the in-goal area and over the dead ball line. But Bessie made up for this when she stunned everyone on both teams (and probably on the touchline too), by remembering to show AND go, resulting in a try (luckily she seems to have learnt from her experience at the Notts 7s and opted to keep going, rather than slamming on the brakes and hoping the defence would “fly right by”). By half time Kersal had built up a comfortable lead and secured a try-scoring bonus point, having scored 5 tries, 4 of which Pam converted.
In the second half Kersal continued to pile the pressure on Preston. Impressive support play from the forwards and good decision making from the half-backs kept the team on the front foot. Experienced backs Katie, Rachel and Tasha all put in some impressive attacking runs and made sure that Anna and Helena were kept in check in the back line. The scoreboard continued to tick over, with Kersal amassing a further 48 unanswered points in the form of 8 tries and 4 conversions. Tasha finished the match with an impressive 5 try haul, the most entertaining of which probably came from her spinning out of a maul before dashing to the line to touch down.
Captain Spud was extremely pleased that team continued their unbeaten run, although there was some disappointment that Duncan and his promised reptile outfit failed to make it to the match. Debutants Helena, Kennedy and Alice all made impressive starts to their Kersal careers, and Jules and Manue demonstrated just what Kersal had been missing out on while they’ve been away.
Credit must also go to Preston for keeping going until the final whistle, and for being the most sporting team Kersal have come across so far this season.

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Becky H, Kennedy
Try Scorers: Tasha5 Bess Jules Pam2 Rachel BeckyH Kitty Anna
Conversions: Pam (8 convs)
Team: 1- Ninja, 2- Kennedy, 3- Bessie, 4- Spud, 5- Manue, 6- Jules, 7- Ali, 8- Becky H, 9- Lorna, 10- Pam, 11- Helena, 12- Kitty, 13- Anna, 14- Rachel, 15- Tasha, 16- Alice, 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Kersal   58 - 3   Scunthorpe

League

14 October 2007

Spaghetti should be congratulated on her restraint this past Sunday. The stopwatch was on her and it took a full 27 minutes before she started to hurl abuse at the Scunthorpe No. 12. In past seasons we've not usually had to wait for the game to begin.
Scunthorpe arrived at AK with a full team and 3 spares, compared to Kersals patched together 15. Both teams seemed to consist mainly of forwards playing in unaccustomed positions however as Barbie was quick to point out, Kersal had not induldged in an inter-team pie eating contest during the summer. Due to the lack of mobility on both sides there was little of the free-flowing backs rugby witnessed last weekend at York and tries were scored by the players with the vision and pace to dart through the gaps in the Scunthorpe defense. Those of you who carefully check the scorers list will be impressed to see Bessie amoungst the tries :-)
Five tries were scored by Kersal in each half, although there was a definite lull in play during the second half as the AK team came to terms with the shocking news that Womers was pregnant. The list of people who were named before her in a game of 'Guess Who's Pregnant', was long and distinguished. Anna took a while to pick her jaw off the floor, whilst Little Wommers will need to be kept an eye on in case of jealousy issues.
Back in the game, Pam gamefully kicked 4 conversions despite her teams consistency in scoring in the corners, and Scuthorpe scored a consolation penalty at the end of the first half. AK were particularly pleased with the crowd of supporters who turned out to watch this top of table clash, right up until it disappeared when the colts game on the next pitch ended. Still, their loss.

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match:
Try Scorers: Tasha 4, Rhino, Lorna 3, Bessie, Becky H.
Conversions: Pam (convs 4)
Team: 1- Katy H., 2- Ninja, 3- Bessie, 4- Stella, 5- Becky N., 6- Kate M., 7- Spud, 8- Becky H., 9- Lorna, 10- Pam, 11- Rachel S., 12- Anna, 13- Rhino, 14- Malibu, 15- Tasha, 16- , 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

York RI   10 - 69   Kersal

League

07 October 2007

A first trip up to York RI this weekend will be remembered by the fan club for many different reasons. Before the game even started the supporters were in a mood. Having turned up nice and early in order to fully appreciate the famed Yorkshire hospitality they were dismayed to discover the club bar closed. After a few moments of running around in circles with a wailing and a gnashing of teeth, Jen and Nic were eventually despatched to the off-licence to gather what they could. An important point here for home clubs: if your bar is open we will spend money at it, if it is not, we can't.
Having been unable to stop Vicky and Jen getting tanked up on cheap tinnies of Strongbow, the Kersal team took to the pitch and for the first 40 minutes took as much of a verbal battering from the sidelines as the home team did. The match seemed to start off well enough for Kersal, with Rhino, Pam, and Emma B, all running in for tries after good passing and support play. Pam converted two of the three and all seemed hunky-dory. But then the Kersal scrum seemed to creak, and with a more stable platform from which to attack, the York outside centre ran past Tasha for a couple of excellent tries. York were unlucky with their conversion attempts with one hitting the crossbar and another hitting a post. After half an hour of play it was 10-19 and the away fans were not impressed.
Seeing that the forwards were not having it all their own way, the AK back line took the game by the scruff of the neck and stretched the game across the park tiring out both packs but creating more attacking space. Rachel was the next to benefit from a sweeping backs move to score her first try of the season, and then Anna ran half the length of the pitch to ensure Kersal had a healthier 10-33 lead at half time.
The jeering by the away fans during the first half had obviously not been missed by the Kersal players as they came out after the break as a much more organised unit. The forwards were starting to behave as they should [in the pack rather than in the back line - Ed], and dominance of the scrum was regained. The AK backs, now twiddling their thumbs waiting for the ball, had more time to size up their opposition and despite York's dubious tactic of using substitutions ran in another 5 tries between them including a brace each for Kitty and Tasha. Having fully recovered from the shock of running half the length of the pitch in the first half Anna did it again in the second, and Rhino finished off the game as it had started with her scoring under the posts. Whilst the York coach was busy berating his team like naughty schoolgirls and denying them water, the fan club was treated to a wonderful glass bottle-smashing display from some local youngsters.
Despite being renamed the 'zoo' by an obviously frustrated York player, the Kersal fans were now much happier, and the discovery at the final whistle that the bar was finally open, was the perfect end to a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. York have the potential to be a competitive unit in the league this season, but if their players get annoyed by our fans, then they're in for a real treat when they meet the Scunthorpe team. Luckily we get them first! Animal face painting anyone?

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Anna, Kitty
Try Scorers: Rhino2, Pam, Emma, Rachel, Anna2, Kitty2, Tasha2
Conversions: Pam (7 conv)
Team: 1- Ninja, 2- EJ, 3- Bessie, 4- Spud, 5- Becky N., 6- Anna, 7- Ali, 8- Becky H., 9- Lorna, 10- Pam, 11- Rachel S., 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Emma B., 15- Tasha, 16- Katey P., 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-

Kersal   49 - 0   Leigh

League

23 September 2007

Pam, the next time a ref asks you if your conversion attempt went over the crossbar, please be good enough to say YES! It's entirely up to him if he believes you or not.

It took all of 3 minutes for AK women's 2006/07 Player of the Year, Becky Hewson, to score Kersal's first try of the 2007/08 season. The fans were particularly pleased to cheer a recognisable face, as they were still playing Name That Player. Only 6 of the Kersal players who started against Leigh this Sunday were in the team who started last season against Scunthorpe. While Vicky tried to convince us that someone was called Emu, the fans witnessed the first of Bessie's 'show-and-go's' of the afternoon. An uncharitable voice suggested that she'd forgotten to let go of the ball, but as Leigh paused (obviously as confused as the rest of us) Bessie legged it half way up the pitch, but not too fast otherwise her support would have been too far behind. A few phases later and it was Stella who reaped the benefits to drive over the try line.
Tasha, who was by now rather perplexed that her forwards hadn't given her the ball, decided to join in and scored with a couple of trademark dashing runs. Her third attempt was almost as good, right up to the point where she knocked-on in the simple act of grounding the ball. A few moments afterwards Leigh were reduced to 13 players after two of their players collided with each other whilst putting in a try-saving tackle. Tasha did manage to notch up her third try just before half time.
The second half was a bit of a blur as those on the sidelines tried to peer through the persistent drizzle, but I have it on good authority that further tries were scored by Tasha, Pam, Spud, and Ceri. Pam managed to notch up a couple of conversions [should have been three - Ed] despite her team-mates scoring in the corners, and the ref finally let us run for cover to the safety of the bar.
An excellent start to the season from the AK girls who showed good cohesion and concentration for the full 80 minutes. Next up is a road trip to York. Snakes on a......?

Captain: Spud
Player(s) of Match: Kitty, Malibu
Try Scorers: Becky, Stella, Tasha (4), Pam, Spud, Ceri
Conversions: Pam (2 conv)
Team: 1- Ninja, 2- EJ, 3- Bessie, 4- Spud, 5- Stella, 6- Becky, 7- Malibu, 8- Anna, 9- Rachel, 10- Pam, 11- Ceri, 12- Kitty, 13- Rhino, 14- Emma, 15- Tasha, 16- , 17- , 18- , 19- , 20- , 21- , 22-