A rusty start to 2024...

After a couple of months of interruption due to frozen and waterlogged pitches and then the Christmas break, this away match against a strong MAC team really tested the Casuals U16s' fitness and teamwork. Casuals made a bright start to the game, despite the absence of some players in key positions, and a number of players playing well outside of their familiar position. The first quarter was pretty evenly matched and it was only Casuals' own unforced errors and rustiness which gifted MAC possession to score, before they regained some discipline and calm heads to work up the pitch through both forwards and backs to take a well-deserved try.

As the game progressed, Casuals struggled to contain MAC's well organised pack with bigger, strong runners which sucked in our defence and gave their attack more room. That said, Casuals dogged defensive effort and commitment to the cause was simply immense, as our girls literally put their bodies on the line to hold the ball up and deny two otherwise certain scores. It was also really pleasing to see our exit strategy and decision-making improving when under pressure in our own 22. Our line-out functioned very well but the oppositions' power and experience told in the scrum where we lost a few against the head.

When Casuals looked after the ball and competed hard at the breakdown, it was an even match, but after all that effort, consistency and cohesion was a challenge in the second-half. Nonetheless, right to the end Casuals never gave MAC an easy time of it, kept their heads up and still provided some of the game's more entertaining rugby, putting the ball through hands and executing moves and support play from the training ground, resulting in a couple of truly excellent tries which drew applause from everyone watching. This team has real guts and such a positive and encouraging attitude which means they enjoy their rugby together, and that's what we're here for.