This past Sunday our London Scottish Under 18s played in the Area 2 Girls Cup final at Aylesbury RFC against Reading Girls.

First things first, the girls had already done the Club incredibly proud by reaching the final. They had gone far deeper into the competition than they have any other time in the previous four seasons.

The game kicked off at 3pm and the Girls got on the scoreboard early. They scored their first try in the early stages of the match but sadly they could not sustain their lead throughout the half and conceded a try just on the stroke half time to go into the break 10-5 down. Despite playing well, they were down at the break.

The Girls were determined to right their wrongs and were working hard. They were rewarded as they scored twice in quick succession to be leading 10-15 with only 5 minutes left in the game.

Unfortunately, the Girls got caught by a very strong wind assisted kick and had to carry the ball over their own line giving Reading the scrum on 5m from which they were able to crash over under our posts. Devastating. This resulted in the only successful conversion to Reading on a stormy day and time was running out.

However, the girls pressured and kept their composure to have possession and a succession of penalties as they worked their way all the way down to the Reading line. Unfortunately after one held up attempt and a second try scoring attempt ruled as a double movement by the referee, the Girls sadly missed out and the whistle was blown meaning Reading had won 17-15.

The whole squad absolutely did themselves proud and have put London Scottish Girls Rugby on the map and in the picture of the wider female rugby community where previously we had been lesser known. Right to the final whistle they kept playing with patience and stuck to the structure they have been coached all year and never dropped their heads and always supported each other. A team truly fit to wear the rampant lion.

Hopefully the girls will only get better as a side and will now be building into going one better next season.

A massive hand must also go to the coaches and parents of the Girls this season who have been integral in this Cup run. Without these key members around the Club, the Girls side would not run so effectively and even though the final result didn’t go the right way, this is very much still a success story at London Scottish.