Great comeback nearly gets a result for U15 girls

Darts played a combined Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells team hoping to continue their improvement individually and as a team. With numerous changes to the team through unavailability Darts started the match with Flora playing at scrum half for the first time and throughout the game she performed really well. It started as a close match with both teams testing each other out but it was the home team who made the first breakthrough to score a try following some good interplay between the forwards and backs. Darts were trying to get themselves organised and were tackling really well with Jemma B putting in a couple of crunching tackles to stop th A21's making ground but it was small errors from Darts which stopped their momentum and put themselves under pressure. Quick passing fromthe A21's saw their quick winger go in for their 2nd try. 10-0. The forwards were doing well in the scrum with Terri and Jess holding up the front row ably supported by Isabella and Megan. Darts were trying to get play going forward using them all to make inroads but the defending from the A21's was excellent and they were stopping Jagoda, Layla and Maddie from getting into space out wide. Flora was feeding the ball well to Anabelle who despite feeling unwell was playing well linking between the forwards and backs and when the ball got to Lucy and Scarlett we looked dangerous. Rosie had a couple of good runs on the wings but like Anabelle, she was also feeling unwell and both had to leave the field. Rejigging the formation of the team, Layla went into the centre and Molly came on in the forwards. Lilly made some good tackles stopping promising attacks and also had the ball in her hands but with sharp defence she was unable to get the space to use her speed. Darts conceded a third try when they were slightly too ambitious in their own 22 and lost the ball. 17-0. This wasn't looking good for the team but as usual with Darts they showed great resilience and started getting their game together and when Gemma W joined the line she took play deep into the A21 22. Taking the ball on close saw Anisha ,Jagoda and Maddie make further strides towards the line and eventually, after a number of penalties it was Lucy who crashed over from 5 metres out. 17-5. Unfortunately for Darts both Jess and Molly both had to leave the field with injuries but this gave Mia a chance to come on to make her debut and although not having a great deal to do she showed confidence and following her work at training will be a great addition to the squad.
Darts started pretty well in the second half with Layla and Scarlett making good ground and Isabella getting the team to ruck really well and manage to turnover some good ball. Darts defence was excellent with Jemma and Maddie continuing to make good tackles and after surviving a good spell from the home side Darts put in a clearing kick to half way but a brilliant take and return run saw the A21's score a brilliant individual try to take the lead to 22-5. Darts were playing well and needed a bit of luck and continuity to get back into the game and after a good spell going forward the ball found Lucy who went forward sold a lovely dummy and raced under the posts, 22-10. Darts were starting to look really confident and Megan and Scarlett were making bigger inroads through the home defensive line and eventually Layla went round a couple of players and went 40 metres to score. 22-15. With Gemma making some great tackles and the forwards putting the team on the front foot another try was beckoning and when Layla stripped the ball from one of the opposition she again raced through strongly to score. 22-20. It was really now game on and both teams were going at it to either win the game or keep hold of the lead and credit to the A21's who kept their cool and put together a great period of play which allowed them to score out wide to take the final score to 29-20.
A great game of rugby played really competitively but in great spirits.