Ladies 7s put up a good fight against Milton Keynes

It was always going to be a tough match against Milton Keynes as they were top of the league. However, the sun was shining, and we were going to have a good game!

We had a strong forward line, and we were delighted when Jess slotted the ball into the back of the net.  Unfortunately, the whistle had already gone so the goal was disallowed.  Milton Keynes then scored and so they were ahead.  Then Helen did a great strike, and we were even 1 – 1.

After a good team talk, we went out again with spirits high.  The opposition hit the ball and it went high.  Two people ducked and the third person was hit on the side of the head.  The ball rebounded off her a hit Sarah Rowe in the back of the head.  She sat out of the rest of the game but didn’t need and further medical attention.  Many thanks to Naomi and Nina who provided first aid to the opposition player.  She left early to go to Bicester Minor Injuries.  We heard later that they glued her ear rather than stitching it and she is back home now.

We held up really well until the last 10 minutes.  The ball went onto Sarah Sanderson’s foot.  Being very honest, she stopped expecting a whistle, but the opposition played on and scored.  They then got a third goal (the ball was under the keeper, but they rodded it out and into the goal) and a fourth just before the whistle went for full time.

So, it was a good result, and everyone played very well.  There were nominations for:

• Gemma, playing for us for the first time, who had an excellent game.
• Jess, playing as inner, did not let that stop her trying to score. She was very fast and fluid in play with lovely skills.
• Helen (who kept annoying their keeper so much, that the keeper told her to F*** off) for her sense of place and her great goal.
• Shan who played an excellent game with lots of energy and great skills.
• Evelyn, in goal, who had a great game with some super clearances.

However the winner of Player of the Match was Anoushka who had an exceptional game with great skills and boundless energy.

A big thank you to the umpires, Evelyn in goal for playing twice, Phil for providing the strategy and tactics and some lovely cookies at the end (she was PoM last week), Tim for taking the photos and Sophia for timekeeping and managing the shirts.