Cornwall under 18’s girls (pictured above) made an early and long journey to Cheltenham Tigers RFC for the inter County festival against Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devon, writes Team Co-ordinator Melissa Rowe.

We might not have won a game but we made some history by putting points on the board in every single game.

With our first game being Gloucestershire, as this being the first game we all played together as a team and as one, I believe our first game was brilliant with the speed of the defensive line pushing them back over the game line with a score from Nadine Vincent putting points on the board.

Well into the second half keeping the ball in our possession when we had it. Keeping the opposition at a distance from their try line.

Going into the second game we know it would be hard due to it being  Devon, as heads dropped knowing that it was a rivalry between the teams getting a penalty over the post as 3 point on the board by Betty Mathews so not leaving the pitch with nothing gave the girls a bit of a boost.

Within the game the defensive line could have been better working as a line slowing the ball when in our possession.

Last but not least the last match up against Somerset, knowing that’s it’s been a long trip and a long day the girls left everything on the pitch, with the first half of the game one way come onto the second half with the big talk by the coach JP the girls went back out and had a smash.

Putting in the winger Ella Havey-Brock in at the corner. With the girls working hard throughout the day in every match. Work-ons defensive line, being able to keep the speed and intensity and rucks, the support runners just an arm length away. Needing the passes to be consistent.

All the girls had a good run out Coach Jonpaul Shrosbree and both captains were very very proud.

Well done to the whole squad and good luck in the remaining festivals.

Cornwall U18s Girls Squad: Megan Moriarty, Lakia Granger, Paige Clarke, Gertie Burton, Chloe Shrosbree, Louise Daniel, Kelsey Barnard, Ella Henry-Brock, Sasha Friggens, Mia Abbott-Smith, Lucie Mills, Emily Joyce, Megan Clifford, Teigan Holden, Josie Ninnis, Holly Derrante, Louisa Meehan, Ellie Smith, Rosie Ninnis, Cree Willis-Gregory, Ellie Beynon, Lucy Rendle, Georgia McKenny, Anna Garman, Chelsea Heidstrom, Catherine Old, Faith Rowe, Kacey Rowe, Betty Matthews, Izzy Holmes, Nadine Vincent.

Cornwall’s girls U18s and U15s representative sides kick off their 2019/20 county festival campaigns this Sunday, although a home encounter is now being hosted the other side of the Tamar!

The U18 girls squad hit the road early on their long trip up to the home of Cheltenham Tigers, where they’ll be playing a simplified format of three 40-minutes matches against Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset, led by coaches Ronan O’Neill (Penryn Ladies/Camborne Girls) and Jonpaul Shrosbree (Penzance & Newlyn Girls).

Meanwhile after the recent storms led to a hunt for a new venue, the U15s girls will be playing their home festival in the well-known Cornish town of… Okehampton! Despite the new location it is still a home fixture.

Coached on the day by Gavin Mountjoy (Newquay Girls) and Ross Tucknott (Penryn Girls), the girls will be playing three 30-minute matches of 15-a-side and three subsequent matches of 7s or XRugby against the same opponents as the U18s, and after a season blighted by cancellations for some of the squad it’ll be only the first, second or third 15-a-side matches they’ve ever played!

With two more identical festivals for each age group over the coming four weeks, that’s a total of 27 matches of rugby for our girls in the Black and Gold! Good luck to those involved, one and all.

Cornwall U18s Girls Squad: Megan Moriarty, Lakia Granger, Paige Clarke, Gertie Burton, Chloe Shrosbree, Louise Daniel, Kelsey Barnard, Ella Henry-Brock, Sasha Friggens, Mia Abbott-Smith, Lucie Mills, Emily Joyce, Megan Clifford, Teigan Holden, Josie Ninnis, Holly Derrante, Louisa Meehan, Ellie Smith, Rosie Ninnis, Cree Willis-Gregory, Ellie Beynon, Lucy Rendle, Georgia McKenny, Anna Garman, Chelsea Heidstrom, Catherine Old, Faith Rowe, Kacey Rowe, Betty Matthews, Izzy Holmes, Nadine Vincent.

Cornwall U15s Girls Squad: Maeya Mason, Ellie Bardoe, Charlotte Picton, Keeley Cann, Lara-Quinn Laugharne, Poppy Pentecost, Farrah Searle, Josie Plant, India Williams, Bethany Tryner, Daisy Munns, Charlotte Martin, Maeve Turley, Amy McHardy, Tamsin Rookes, Rhianna Brisley, Tecca Ford, Chloe Samways, Millie Osman, Tia Hatch, Lily Relton, Millie Brown, Hannah Statton, Kerris Luke, Chiana A’Lee, Ellen Armstrong, Zara Turner, Jade Turner, Becky Bennett, Charlie Pennicott.