Before kick off, we had a minutes applause in honour of Paul Keenor, on what would have been his 30th Birthday, and for the legend of EGRFC, Matt Ratana. Both sadly taken too soon but remembered always.

Two local teams coming together for the first league game for EGRFC women in over 10 years. We couldn’t have asked for a better team for our first league game. Both sides have fought hard to get to where they are today.

We came out strong and performed from the first whistle. The team worked hard, rarely missing a tackle. The game play went from strength to strength with fantastic back line work from Naomi Searle and Sian Lewis. Getting the ball frequently out to Ella Scott on the wing.

The first half was well fought, keeping Crawley from scoring when they entered our 22. But the pressure from our forwards saw a penalty being awarded to us. Sian Lewis utilised this with a fantastic kick where we made ground once again. Crawley never gave up and got into our 22 at times but the EGRFC defence held them from scoring.

The scrums were uncontested due to injury, EGRFC using this to choose this option when given to keep hold of the ball and use it to their advantage.

Poppy Keenor and Elizabeth McCarthy putting in some strong tackles. Jo ‘BJ’ Cox-Goodsell never letting anyone run through the line. Bronwyn O’Donoghue getting the legs of the opposition and pulling them to the ground.

The first half saw no score so at half time the women came together for a team talk with the coaches.

Straight in on the second half we saw the first of two tries being scored by Naomi Searle. A superb run, dodging tackle after tackle and getting in near the posts with full support from the whole team.

Sian Lewis converted and we went up to 7-0.

Our newest player on her debut game, Eloise Lucas, came running in to cover an injury and steaming her way through with the pack. Amy Muggeridge, albeit slightly ‘tired’, put in some amazing tackles and coming up to the opposition to defend immensely.

The second try, also scored by Naomi saw forward play as support to get the ball up the pitch. With some handy passing between the hobbit duo saw the ball over the line.

The second half saw some amazing game play from all of the EGRFC women, working together and getting the ball out

The women carried on holding Crawley off from scoring for the majority of the game. The last play of the game saw the Crawley women break through a hard EGRFC defence to get their only try of the game. This was converted.

The game was a power house of tackles from all of the women on the pitch. Both teams fought to the end, never giving up and showing that the women are back in town.