The girls arrived at Fullerians RFC (Fullers) in the bitter cold, some wrapped in a million layers and others in less, braving the baltic temperatures. With the Fullerians team turning up with exactly double the numbers of the Watford side and Watford's scarcity of training since Christmas, future events looked a little bleak.

The match started like so many others. Watford kicked off, Fullers gathered, one phase occurred, and the ball was passed to the wing, where Fullers flew down and scored an early try. — Fullers 5-0 Watford.

Watford kicked off again. Fullers started using their offloading skills to try and panic our defence, but our defence held firm with Jess getting over the ball for a textbook jackal! This dented Fuller's momentum whilst simultaneously giving our girls a confidence boost. A trio of Watford quick tap penalties (which we should trademarked at this point) had Watford tearing 55m down the pitch into within 5m of Fuller's try line. However, Fullers kept patience, and the ball was eventually knocked on.

Fullers hit back with their own series of penalties before Jess yet again, made a great tackle and immediately clamped onto the ball for another outstanding jackal. Watford repeated their earlier efforts and were once again knocking on the door of the Fuller's try line. Finally, a quick tap penalty for Kadi 5m out had her barrelling over for Watford's first try of the match! Neatly converted by Izzy.
— Fullerians 5 - 7 Watford.

Fuller’s reply was almost instant. They managed to steal their ball off the kickoff and used the weakness identified earlier in the game, the wing, to score their second try of the match. — Fullers 10 - 7 Watford.

At this stage, Watford girls finally looked as if they had settled into the game. Some ball possession rallying was in motion, with both sides bruising each other with hefty carries. Watford started thrashing through defenders. Off a scrum, Fullers decided to execute a backs set piece move. Deception, combined with a keen eye for open space, had Fullers run in another two tries. — Fullers 22 - 7 Watford.

The Watford girls had decided enough was enough. The readied them self to make a surge for the Fuller's try line. Phoebe led the cavalry, as she ran through 3 defenders off a quick tap penalty only to be held up over the line, no try. Watford had a second crack at it after Fullers failed to exit their 22m zone, and the Watford girls stole possession back and fought back over Fuller's try line, only to be held up for a second time. Not all hope was lost yet as Watford charged for a third time. Poppy started barking attacking orders organising the team like all great 10’s, getting them go forward ball, before finally crashing in herself, offloading to Freya who crashed down earning the girls a much-deserved try.

HT Fullers 22 - Watford 14.

Fullers entered the second half with a clear “full speed ahead” order instructed to them as they made carry after carry to Watford’s try line. A Fuller’s scrum 15m away from Watfords try line looked ominous as they put their biggest, strongest carrier 15-year-old that I’ve ever seen at no.8. She tried once, but Kadi and Jess weren’t letting her through that easily, hitting her so hard she thudded to the ground and dropped the ball. Despite this great effort, their no.8 had a scrum only a few minutes later this time 10m out, scoring eventually another try for Fullers. — Fullers 27 - 14 Watford.

The game continued, as a failed Fullers lineout was scooped up by Phoebe, as Margot and Kadi followed with some destructive straight-line running. Poppy then used her immense strength to burst through tackles for Watford’s 3rd try. — Fullers 27 - 21 Watford.

Fullers stunted our recently found form and momentum after a minor infringement at a protective ruck by Watford; Fullers tapped quickly leaving our defenders confused as she split in the middle of them unchallenged. — Fullers 32 - 21 Watford.

Watford didn’t let that try get the better of them as some huge carries by Phoebe and Kadi bounced off shoulders like a bowling ball through pins. Before the ball landed in Izzy’s hands she galloped towards the line, twisting and squirming to place the ball down. Also converting her own try! — Fullers 32 - 28 Watford.

Fullers landed back inside Watford’s 22m line as Watford successfully repelled 3 taps and go penalties that Fullers fired at them, holding the last one up. The Watford girls reset with a goal-line dropout. However, Watford didn’t follow up the kick as Fuller's flyhalf picked it up and evaded two tacklers before dotting the ball down. — Fullers 37 - 28 Watford

Watford reset with some grit between their teeth. Kadi once again drops their herculean no.8, before Poppy latches onto the ball in the ruck, jackalling it off them and offloading to others in space. Unfortunately, this success was short lasted as attackers began to run alone, isolating themselves and making it easy for Fullers to strip the ball back before offloading their ball to what looked like a are wearing a fullerenes top as she pinned back her ears and sprinting towards the try line untouched. Fullers 44 - 28 Watford.

Watford really bound together for the final 12 minutes of the game, retaining possession the whole time (except for one Fullers scrum, which Watford quickly got back), all within 10m of Fuller's try line. A real team effort came into full effect as Margot, Poppy, Phoebe, Danielle, Kadi, Izzy, Layla, Amelie and Jess pummelled into fatigued defenders, making breaks all over the place. However, Fullers proved their resilience as they held out attack after attack, holding up Watford over the try line twice. Full Time.

FT Fullerians 44 - Watford 28.

Forward of the Match - Amelie
Back of the Match - Margot
Player of the Match - Jess

Written by Fionn McGuinness.