Newquay U18s have clustered with Tavistock this year and with the help of four of their girls took Plymouth Albion apart and went straight on to beat Liskeard after a 15 minute break.
Tavistock Girls U18s 48
Plymouth Albion U18s 17
THIS was the first U18s match for Ali Huntley, Fiona McCall, Alice Upcott, Rosie Tidball, Erin Midson-Holmes and Theresa Brown who have just moved up from U15s.
With it being Molly Megicks first rugby match and with four new players from Newquay in the team it was not really a surprise that Tavistock went two tries and a conversion down within 10 minutes.
However vice captain Beth Neave who was standing in for England U18 Clara Nielson, out through injury, soon got her girls into shape, and with a hat-trick of tries led the attack on Plymouth Albion.
Kayleigh Calloway-Bawden scored three and there was one each from Alex, Charlie Notman and Rachael Watson — who also converted two, with Fiona McCall and Kayleigh one each.
Rosie Tidball was key to winning the ball and Katy Scorer and Alice Upcott in the second row worked tirelessly; Alex tackled fiercely and ran powerfully through the centre, ably supported by Fiona, then Elsie Kirby who was also putting in some big tackles.
Bodmin/Liskeard U18s 10
Tavistock U18s girls 17
THE first try went to the opposition but Tavistock regrouped and came back with some impressive rugby. Kayleigh and Alex were the scorers with two and one tries respectively. One converted by Kayleigh.
Rachael Watson and Ali Huntley, half backs were the stars making sure the ball was distributed with speed and accuracy.
Rosie Tidball, Alice Upcott and Katy Scorer did sterling work in the pack and Theresa Brown, moving from the forwards to the backs, along with Fiona McCall, tackled strongly preventing many Liskeard break outs. Kerry Walker on the wing ran herself ragged and only good defending by the Leopards prevented her scoring her try.
With skipper Beth injured, Elsie Kirby moved into the centres and again made ground in attack and many tackles in defence. Both Erin Midson-Holmes replacement hooker and Molly Megicks who replaced Briony at prop gave a good account of themselves.
Tavistock's Newquay girls gave a strength to the side which will allow the younger players to feed off and flourish in future matches.