Final waterfall cup pool match versus our neighbours over the Hogs Back - Guildford & Camberley clustered. When the clocks spring forward as a coach you always have that concern of playing the first period with only 1/2 the team but thankfully not this year :). 10:30 all present and raring to go! A focused warm up and straight into the match with an air of excitement the girls all really up for this.

With the rain overnight there was an expectation it would be a mud fest with the ball stuck in the forwards and never getting to the wings..... From the start both teams drove directly and recycled well. Farnham forwards worked hard to recycle the ball and relentless pick and go allowed 2nd Row Ellie Brooker to drive over picking a great line and coming onto the ball at pace. Nothing was going to stop her from opening the score! Guildford undeterred came right back, building a fabulous attack, with wave after wave gaining small but effective distance each drive. Farnham looked like they would concede but some brilliant defense on the goal line saw Farnham gain a knock on advantage which Zara pounced on powering out of our own 22 and releasing the outside backs. As the half progressed the main difference between the 2 sides Farnham secured the ball and took time to get set at the breakdowns not rushing to recycle too quickly. This allowed the backs time and space to make quality passes and try's from Scarlett (x2) outside centre and Lara on the wing finished off great attacking plays. Half time lead 25-0.

The start of the 2nd half and we moved players around giving us an opportunity to see how the girls coped playing in less familiar positions. A moment of coaching concern as Guildford & Camberley struck first in the 2nd period with some strong carries from all their pack. This was the wake up the girls needed and with almost identical fashion to the first half Ellie Brooker powered over from close to get her 2nd of the match. After some challenging and close conversion attempts in the first period Emily Watson found some less muddy ground and struck sweetly to get her account started. The 2nd half settled down and Farnham following the re-shuffle at half time started to find their rhythm again and Zara cutting a great line through the Guildford defense broke clear at the half way line and although still had some work to do the look in her eyes said she was scoring and she did! for the final 10 minutes the challenge was set to get one of Ellie or Scarlett their hat-tricks, several opportunities arose and somehow one or both of them were in support ready to pounce. It was Scarlett that managed to get her hat-trick with a great offload out of the tackle leaving her 25m to go, evading one tackle with fantastic feet (sidestep leaving a poor defender in the muddy puddle!) followed by a determined and very direct dive through the last ditch attempt from their full back! Emily converted again!!

The game was coming to the end when Kerrie Kelly ran the ball powerfully out from under our posts to the 22. Whilst Guildford scrambled Eva Jenkins saw space and chipped ahead into space, the kind bounce of the ball was taken by flanker Emma who broke clear. Guildford chased hard and were gaining when Amelie (winger) appeared in support telling Emma when to release and Amelie had a run in to score a well deserved try on the final whistle.

POM voted by Guildford: Amelie Moran (I think it was that shift in the 2nd row)
Special mentions:
Scarlett Glover - Hat-trick and best run out of the season reminding us all how determined and skillful she is with ball in hand and space to run
Ellie Brooker - She has worked hard this season with an injury pre-Christmas but is back now doing the hard and often unrewarded work in the 2nd row well. Particularly her reading of the game and decision making is evident to see, keep going Ellie!!

Thanks again to Andy Glover for the great photos and to all 5 girls who helped out Guildford & Camberley to allow us to play 15 a-side, playing as hard against us as for us is what all our coaches love and shows the understanding of TREDS we hopefully try to get across.

Waterfall Cup P5 W4 L1
On to Finals day!!!