Darcy Tite
Matilda Timon
Emily Johncock
Ella Polwarth
Cara Davidson
Grace Conyers-France
Francesca Pennington
Arianna Hergest
Freya Stone
Sophia Forsyth
Dara
Ila Johnson
Ila Smith
Maddie Jenkins
Olivia Spears
Violet Franks

The day of the finals had finally arrived and the Dartford Valley’s contingent made there way to Bromley for what was anticipated as their toughest test to date. The last of the winter weather had ravaged Bromley’s ground in the week leading up to today and warnings of the ground conditions had been circulated to al the clubs. The long walk from the various carparks arranged for the day heightened the feelings of anticipation. On arrival we were met with the glorious sight of our luminous orange Gazebo which was to be our base for the day. Not only had the “Smiths” arrived in advance, BUT it was well stocked with a gas fire in the corner to keep the troops warm and an array of tea coffees and food that made it clear Costco had took a spanking! Some say Rhys used it as an excuse to buy new gadgets with his new power bank and tea Urn! So nobody could say we were unprepared on the food and comfort side of things. As for the rugby? Well let’s begin!
The finals were to be played on a points system and we were to play Medway, BCW Sabres and Bromley. Two out of those we had met at games earlier in the season however Bromley were an unknown quantity and thus with home advantage all eyes were on them in the warmup where they looked impressive. The Valley girls kept their cool and whilst we delayed the warm up till before our first game the team talks and individual pep talks started with enthusiasm. Tournament Rugby is different to turning up on a match day with just the one opponent and with the permutations of scores being 4 points for a win, a bonus point for 4 try’s, a losing bonus point for losing by one try. There was the possibility of losing a match and still coming away with two points. The intention was clear, to secure the cup was simple, win all three games! These girls have a habit of being slow out of the blocks, but this was cup final day and this was not an option. As the first game loomed against Medway the challenge had been set, get a good start to the day and secure the bonus point as quickly as possible and allow rotation of our subs. Yep you heard that right we had subs for one of the first times of the season, not only that we had four! It was going to be a glorious day! Strap yourselves in for the first game!

Game 1 Medway
Dartford start the day firing on all cylinders and it was clear from the outset they meant business. Relentless phase play saw them deep into opposition territory when Ila Johnson found herself with ball in the centre field. Her trademark diagonal run saw her being hotly pursued not only by Medway but also Tilly and Freya in support, was that support or looking to capitalise with an offload? It didn’t matter because Ila was making sure of this one on her own, with a handoff at the ready for the last covering defender she dotted down for Valleys first try of the day and to settle the first match jitters. 1-0 Valley
A marauding run from Arianna ends with the ball being ripped away by Medway but ends up in the loose on the floor. Both a Medway player and Tilly dive for the ball but there was only one winner there as Tilly places the ball back grateful to see Cara securing over her. These girls are starting to play heads up rugby now and as Violet, one of the first at the breakdown as always steps in at 9, Freya on the left wing can be seen directing her right. The ball gets passed out to Darcey who hits the ball running, I’ve got to tell you, you don’t want to allow her the space to pick up some speed as inevitably she becomes very hard to stop. A Medway player try’s to tackle her upper body but a quick 360 puts paid to that first contact, she is running through a scrambling defence and though Medway get a low tackle in Darcey is already diving for the line and the try is ours, just 1 minute after the first one was scored. 2-0 Valley
5 minutes later and the tables appear to be turning as Valley find themselves defending their try line, but Valleys defence is on fire even at this early stage of the day and Valley turn the ball over and with strong runs from Dara on the right she passes to Fran in the centre who whilst gains ground is mobbed by 3 Medway players, undeterred she offloads to Cara who is there in support. Now there are strong runners and there is Cara! The first hand off is a gesture, the second is a statement as the Medway player is sent to the floor. But Rugby is a great sport and good technique always wins, a low tackle from Medway Charlotte sees Cara go to ground, before she hits the floor the ball is offloaded to Arianna who sweeps from left to right, as she is tackled Tilly Timon is waiting and starts one of her mazey runs, with the tryline beckoning she is tackled by Charlotte 5 metres out. She spots Dara running towards her and pops the ball up for Dara to stride over the line. 3-0 Valley
Through the season as with most teams kicking off gets shared about as all the girls practise. Game day today sees Tilly being nominated as our kicker and the opposition are finding her kicks hard to deal with. A high ball and a chase sees her gather her own kick off and whilst Medway are on her immediately Sophia comes away with the ball darting left, as half the defence follows her she plays an inside ball into Cara who from 5 metres out ploughs through six defenders to secure the bonus point in the first half. 4-0 Valley
At this stage you would be forgiven for thinking that it was all one way traffic but that was not the case. Medway had plenty of attacking options and Valleys defence were being tested. After successive offsides the ref was giving the girls a talking do, but whilst they dutifully listened Medway tapped and went and sneakily scored a contentious try to close the half. The try stood despite the controversy. 4-1 Valley
The second half was a battle for Valley and whether they were complacent due to their bonus point secured in the first half or lapses in concentration saw a spirited fight back by Medway as the they scored a further 2 try’s and the match ending tighter than the Valley coaches would have liked. 4-3 Valley
The first game closed out with maximum points and the Medway fight back may have been just what we needed to ensure the girls refocused for the next game.
Game 2 BCW Sabres
Whilst the scrums are only a contested strike at this age, they are still a competitive affair and taking 5 girls out of play frees up space. A valley scrum just inside Sabres half saw a great strike from Darcey and whilst Sabres 9 tracked Ella all the way to the back of the scrum she got the ball out to Cara on the blindside who cantered home for the first try. 1-0 Valley
Another marauding run from Darcey sees us about 10 metres out, as she gets wrapped up the ball gets passed to Sophia who is eager to join the party. She decides route one is the way to go and drives for the line through five Sabre players. Valleys resident photographer Nicola Johncock captures the try brilliantly and the determination on Sophias face as she grounds the ball is both a joy to behold and testament to the effort and determination taken to get it there. 2-0 Valley
Whilst having athletes in a family brings its joys it also brings its tribulations, with Caras dad away skiing Mum Ruth is holding the fort at home and whilst starting her day with Rugby midway through the day she has to shoot off to take her other daughter to a Football cup final! Cara decides therefore to put on her try scoring boots and scores a brace before mum has to leave. 4-0 Valley
The second half sees much of the same and being 4-0 down is a tough ask to come back from. Ila Johnson cements Valleys dominance with a try in the first minute and even a last ditch grab for her ponytail wasn’t stopping her as she powers down the right wing to set our stand out for the second half. 5-0 Valley
By now Sabres are struggling and as has been seen in previous games in the season, the more that teams get pushed back the more they kick for a breather. Often however the breather is short lived, especially when the ball is caught and run straight back at you. As Sabres kick the ball is gathered by Grace who later claimed she didn’t do much today, well I’m not sure what games she was watching because this girl has came on leaps and bounds this season. A strong run back at the Sabre defences sees her come through three players before offloading to Tilly. Tilly does what Tilly does, which is often to much! Much to the disdain of her coaches including her dad! Sometimes I think she just likes practising her stepping, as she hotfoots it over to the left wing dancing round players she decided she enjoyed that and runs back to the centre through not just the players but heads in the refs direction. As he throws his hands up and jumps out the way she is finally grounded by a great flying sabre tackle! Sophia ever quick to respond, picks and goes and as always she makes light of hard work. I lose count of how many players are clamped on to her as she leg drives over the line to score. Valley 6-0
There is a vast array of players in our squad and finally having some subs brings new challenges with wanting our best team out to secure the win but also ensuring game time for all, Well it appears that Coach Damian is a master tactician and the full squad is being used in every game. I feel a special mention needs to go out to our newest recruit, pocket rocket Olivia Spear, what she gives way in size she makes up for in heart and whilst one of the smallest on the pitch she was in the thick of it. Agonisingly close to reducing dad to tears as she drove for the line riding tackles but being just short of the try line. Plenty of players didn’t score today, but Rugby is so much more than that. The rest of the girls all played a massive part and Olivia is a valuable asset to the team.
Credit where its due Sabres never gave up the fight and got a consolation try at the end. I met that try scorer and her dad in the clubhouse later and its great to see even whilst losing how proud of that try they both were. He sought us out to congratulate our girls on their play and sportsmanship. Valley 6-1
Valley now had over an hour before the last game of the day and were encouraged to get some food and drink on early, as they retired to the gazebo for refreshments the coaches watched the other teams and there were some hotly contested rugby to watch. An incredible display of girls rugby all round.
Match 3 Bromley (Todays hosts)
Bromley are an unknown quantity to us, whilst we strived to arrange a friendly fixture, the dates didn’t align well as we are scheduled for a curtain raiser back here next Saturday! So girls on both sides had no idea of what the opposition was going to be like. As the last game approached the coaches gave their final words of wisdom, this was now out of the coaches hands and the success of or failure of the day and the season was in the girls hands. Days like these are few and far between and expressing to the girls how much they will look back on this day in the future was our final thoughts. Time to empty the tanks girls and leave it all out there!
Well this isn’t starting to plan as from the off Bromley ship the ball out wide, slow off the line in defence Valleys complacency was rightly punished. Bromley’s winger had serious gas and sweeping through the gap she accelerated running the half the length of the pitch at a breeze. The Home crowd were vocal to say the least. Would the girls heads drop or would they recover? Valley 0-1
As far as I’m concerned wingers are a strange breed, maybe that’s because I’m slow! But given the right time or the right motivation they can turn a game on its head and Freya whilst impressed by Bromley’s winger decided to let everyone know that 2 can play at that game! With Bromley turned over Darcey shipped the ball out to Fran and with a hand off and an offload to Freya deep in our own half Freya sets out on an arched run. Crossing the full width of the field she straightens up dangerously close to the touchline but dances down the line at speed to score her first of the day Valley 1-1

In tight games, sometimes a captain has to lead by example and captains do as captains do! Darcey scores one to put daylight between the 2 teams. Valley 2-1

Dara has been a monster in defence today, often making me wince and as a strong ball carrier I cant believe she only scored the once today (I checked twice!) But she cleared our line and set off on one of her trademark runs up the left which saw her gain Valley plenty of territory and nullify the threat. This saw a huge amount of discipline and phases played out by Valley, Tilly chasing in support is there to secure as Dara goes to ground, Ella passes to Violet who is floored by a powerful Bromley tackle is quickly secured by Darcey and Ella is there again to pass out to Arianna who scampers across the pitch and offloads to Ila Johnson who whilst handing the Bromley player off initially, Bromley holds on so she offloads to Tilly. Tilly drives for the line and no less than six Bromley players conspire to hold her up as she battles to get to the floor. Behind their try line Bromley manage to rip the ball from her hands as she goes to ground but two can play that game as Cara immediately steals it back does a 360 and gets the ball down. Valley 3-1
Halftime The halftime chat is about composure and how to see off a tight game in the last ten minutes of the day. Its ours for the taking but make no mistake its not a given!
Try of the day coming up! Deep in our own half Sophia catches the ball on the right wing and steps two upcoming defenders leaving them for dust, taking contact with another two she offloads to Tilly who drives in field drawing defenders before offloading to Smithy. Smithy catches the ball with a bit of a juggle before moving the ball away from her oppo into her left hand whilst simultaneously fending with her right. She offers the ball to the oncoming Cara who duels with a Bromley defender fighting for the ball but there was only ever going to be one winner there! Cara carries strongly before passing the baton to Arianna who drives for the line but is just short, somehow (where’s the TMO?!) Bromley end up with the ball but tackled by Tilly presents the ball inches from their own tryline. Panic ensues as Bromley play hot potato in their own dead ball area, possibly not knowing to dot it down their pockets are eventually picked as Darcey rips the ball and puts it down. Valley 4-1
It appears that the pressure is being dealt with better by Valley and is the home advantage to much for the Bromley girls? In their own half a missed pass sees the ball in the loose and who is there? Cara, almost nonchalantly gathers the ball up and beats 2 wingers with a decisive run down the touchline. Valley 5-1
Ever get a feeling of Dejavu? In an almost carbon copy of the try just gone after a crunching tackle from Dara a wayward pass from Bromley is scooped up by Darcey and popped into the waiting hands of Cara. With that same run down the line beating 2 defenders Cara and Valley are starting to run away with it. Valley 6-1
In the final play of the game Bromley bookend the game with a late try to finish the game with Valley deserved winners. Valley 6-2
Whilst Valley were deserved winners Bromley didn’t make it easy and the scoreline doesn’t always reflect how the game played out. Whilst we scored well, what won us this game and the tournament was our defence which was outstanding all day long. Whilst in modern youth sports it is often frowned upon to point out individuals and whilst the whole squad played no small part and were pivotal to our overall success there were some stand out performances. Particularly in the last crucial game against Bromley. Big players perform in the big games and 2 players for me stood out. A true Captains performance by Darcey who as well as her try’s was an absolute menace in defence with an immense work rate. Cara scored a hat trick in the final and 7 in total on the day.

All round a truly great day of girls rugby across all of the teams. But what is brewing in Dartford is something special and watching these girls grow week on week as the season has progressed is a joy to behold. On the pitch and off our rugby family is growing and evolving, hopefully as well as great rugby players we are churning out well rounded young ladies ready to make parents, coaches and their club proud. Remember ladies, with hard work the world is your oyster!

Now I’m off for a little cry!
Coach Peter