Reporter Phil Vickery.
Dartfordians U16 Girls continued their relentless march in Division 1 with a stunning 51-0 victory over TJs Academy. In near-perfect conditions for rugby, the girls delivered a powerhouse performance, combining brute strength, intelligent play, and blistering pace to dismantle their opponents.
Right from the opening whistle, Dartfordians took control. Strong early carries from Martha and Ife put them deep into TJs territory, and after sustained pressure, Chloe V broke through for the first try of the game. Despite a missed conversion, the intent was clear: Dartfordians were here to dominate.
Moments later, Maia went for the corner but was halted by a crunching tackle. However, Ife was quick to react, picking up and diving over to extend the lead to 10-0. Chloe V then powered forward off the restart, setting up another attacking phase, and Holly finished it off to make it 15-0.
Dartfordians' backline was in full flow, and Chloe V, showed her class. Picking up the ball from deep, she sprinted from halfway to score, extending the lead to 22-0. Anna successfully making the conversion. Moments later, a piece of unusual play saw Molly use her head—quite literally—to control a loose ball, leading to another try as Chloe V pounced again for her third of the game. 29-0 and Dartfordians were in cruise control.
The momentum didn’t stop. Darcey and Anna combined brilliantly, with Anna threading a perfectly weighted kick through the TJs defense. Darcey gathered it and sprinted clear to score. With another conversion, the scoreboard read 34-0. Just before halftime, Martha shrugged off multiple defenders to crash over, putting Dartfordians 39-0 up at the break.
Second Half: More of the Same
With a comfortable lead, Dartfordians rotated their squad, ensuring everyone got minutes. TJs Academy attempted to regain some territory, but Dartfordians' defensive line was unbreakable. The forwards dominated the breakdowns, allowing the backs to work their magic.
Midway through the half, Martha once again powered through to score, followed by another well-executed team move that resulted in a try out wide. The score kept ticking upwards: 44-0, then 51-0 as Dartfordians put on a clinical display of running rugby.
TJs Academy showed resilience but couldn’t find a way through. Every attempt was met with aggressive tackling and smart defensive play from Dartfordians. As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard told the full story, 51 unanswered points and another step closer to the league title.
Post-Match Thoughts
This was another statement performance from Dartfordians. The balance between forward dominance and backline creativity made them unstoppable. Chloe V was electric with her running, Martha was a force of nature in attack, and Anna controlled the game superbly.
With just one league game remaining, Dartfordians remain top of the table and firmly in control of their destiny. If they can maintain this form, the league title is within touching distance.
Head Coach Comments
"A scrappy performance today, but a win is a win, and we keep moving forward. The girls showed great determination and resilience, but there’s still plenty to work on. We need to tidy up our execution and maintain our intensity for the full game. That said, I’m proud of the effort, and we’ll take the positives as we continue to improve. On to the next one!"