Ladies 5's 1 - Oxford Ladies 7's 3

Now I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came to support us this week in the pouring, no torrential, rain! We may not have had the score that we wanted (3-1 to Oxford) but we all enjoyed ourselves, despite the weather.

In fact, when I got home and sat down to write the match report, I realised all I could remember was how wet I had got- to the point I could wring out my skort! So, I decided this week, rather than a traditional match report, I was going to write all the highlights I remember from everyone in the game.

First of all, we had a few new players with us this week (not that you would have known from watching us as we played so well together as a team). We welcomed Hannah and Amabel from the under 14 who joined us for training this week. Amabel had a great match in Mid with some fantastic runs up the line with the ball and showed her determination, driving the ball towards the goal again and again (and she was voted man of the match for her first ladies game, well done Amabel!).

Hannah found her footing quickly and showed a great calmness and confidence on the ball, working hard to move the ball up to the waiting forwards up the wings. There was great play between the mids and forward, they made some great connections. We also had a new player up front, another Sophie, who joined us this week and had a great game, even scoring our only goal off a short corner!

New Sophie and Boycott had a lovely game together, they worked well as a pair, passing the ball up the pitch towards the goal. And it was fantastic to see Boycott back on the pitch, showing us all what 'intensity' means!

It was wonderful to have big Jess back with us for this week, how we have missed her big hits and she always amazing me at how easily she can take the ball from the opposition when they are storming down the wing to our D. I love the look of surprise on their face when you sprint to beat them to the ball and appear in front of them!

I was glad to have Hayley back as our centre back this week, I always feel a little uneasy when she's not behind me and she showed me why this week with the way she calmly defends that D, and finds that pass with every hit out.

Helen was back as our right back and also showed how to be cool and calm but yet always finds that pass, I am never quite sure how she always manages to get the ball through a ring of opposition! I just panic in that situation!

Keira in goal showed, as she always does, how to calmly clear those ball out from her D. She impressed me during short corners (I was on the post) by coming out and really putting pressure on the Oxford ladies.

Tegan took up the diamond position this week and really showed her fitness and skill, she was able to keep on running up and down, intercepting those players driving down the middle. She even spent some time in Mid, really showing me up on my fitness!

Georgina shared the diamond and centre mid positions with me and Tegan, and also showed how much fitter than me she was. She worked extremely hard, helping the ball up the pitch but also tracking back when the opposition made a break.

Devin spent most of our game in mid and also showed how unfit I am. She made the left wing her position and worked very hard to move balls up to the waiting forwards in front of her. She also made sure to track back and defend when the opposition made a break and would always be back in our D ready to defend.

Amelia had a fantastic game up front (it's a shame the rain meant her mum couldn't film her). She worked well with the two Sophie's either side of her and made lots of connections with them to help move the ball up to the D.

Debs made that high forward position her own (despite not being able to see due to the rain and her contacts!) but her enthusiasm and intensity on the pitch is amazing and rubs off on us all. Just what we needed on a wet miserable day like that!

It was also fantastic to have Bex come down to coach/run the line/ support us. It makes such a difference to have someone who is watching the whole game to see what we need to do.

And special mention to Ruth D for coming in her kit even though she was injured and supporting us. And to Lindsey who we have missed very much on the pitch and are very much looking forward to when you can be back with us.

A final thank you to our two home umpires - Ruth Young and Amelia Tanner.

Ladies 5's Captain - Pippa