Due to a late cry off by Belper, both of North Kesteven RUFC junior girl's teams found themselves on the road yet again, this time to the outskirts of Birmingham to take on their counterparts from Tamworth in a hastily re - arranged game.
This was the first fixture ever for the North Kesteven girls at Tamworth who were in fact a combination of three teams, Tamworth, Burton on Trent and Litchfield - in effect Staffordshire in all but name.
In the Under 14 game early pressure by the home side was absorbed by NK who clealry relished the prospect of a club team playing a county side. The tackles rained in thick and fast and it was from turnover ball in the tackle that Laura Ware ran half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. With the try converted by Katie Smith NK took a 7 - 0 lead. The hosts came back into the game just before half time with an unconverted try. The second half followed much the same pattern with superb tackling by the NK side keeping the hosts at bay. Just when it seemed that Nk would secure a famous victory Tamworth upped the pace and the tackle count began to take it's toll on tired bodies.Going into the final minute and with both Katie Smith and Carla Clubb off the pitch with injuries,the NK defence finally cracked and allowed a score under the posts which was the final play of the game. With the conversion made good the hosts had dragged victory from the jaws of defeat to win by 12 points to 7.
The Under 17 game was an equally tight affair with Tamworth running out winners by 4 tries to 1 to win by 20 points to 5. The highlights of the game were the superb cover tackling and kicking game of fly half Mica Grossett and the 8th try of a productive season for winger Geraldine Baker, plus a faultless display at fullback by Catherine Scutts.
Player of the day for the Under 's was debutant Daisy Wattam whilst Mica Grosset won the Under 17 award for her fine committed display.
The girls are due a home game and next week see's Kettering vist the Memorial Ground kick off Sunday 14th at 2pm.
