25th February 2024
Team Sponsors: Kelsy Living and Life Investment Estate Agents
Today’s squad was Ada, Sophie, Paige, Primrose, Charlotte, Maisie F, Floss and Phoebe.
This weekend it was the ultimate home-town derby, with neither team even being able to claim a “home field advantage”, as we saw Rugby Town’s Under-8s play their fellow Under-8 Lionesses.
With a starting line-up of Primrose, Charlotte, Sophie and Maisie, with Paige in goal, the kick-off whistle announced the start of an incredibly exciting game between 2 teams who were clearly looking to prove themselves in front of their peers. Both teams immediately launched into action and the Lionesses put the pressure on immediately with some impressive passing and moving, especially up-front. This pressure was met with determined defending by Primrose, whose speed really keeps tabs on attacking players.
As we’ve seen before, Sophie and Charlotte team up beautifully to coordinate attacks on the opposition, and we saw that today with a couple of nice runs together. Maisie was working hard in midfield with her usual passion for the game.
Charlotte makes a lovely run down the line, and with perfect timing stops the ball dead and makes a clean pass through to Sophie who picks it up with her usually skill on the ball. Maisie is supporting a few metres back and is able to quickly pick up possession when the Lionesses defence foil Sophie’s run. More thoughtful defending from Primrose, willing to play the ball into touch to put a pause on the incoming pressure, allowing the team to gather themselves.
The Lionesses are implementing a tactic of keeping a player deep into the Rugby half, ready to pick up any long through-balls. Without careful and persistent marking, this is becoming a danger to Rugby U8s.
Ada, Phoebe and Floss are subbed on to replace Maisie, Primrose and Charlotte. Floss started out with a really strong performance in defence, forcing a couple of corners for the Lionesses, whilst both Ada and Phoebe showed lovely ball skills and runs in midfield. Both of these players had a steely determination in their tacking and echoed the attitude that the rest of the team showed at kick-off.
Paige’s confidence is goal is growing every week, taking the initiative to rush out and collect up incoming balls rather than waiting. Great performance! Sophie made a couple more good runs, and Phoebe showed good positioning and link-ups with Ada in midfield.
Despite the clear determination, passion and skills, Rugby were coming up against an impressive performance by the Lionesses, who have grown from strength to strength over the last couple of months and should be proud of their performance.
Into the second half and Rugby are having to recompose themselves after a tough first half putting up with solid defending and confident attacking from the opposition.
Maisie has replaced Paige in goal, and with the gloves off (both figuratively and literally) she put in an amazing showing in midfield, with determined tackles, nice runs and thoughtful positioning.
Floss and Maisie were the same, with clean tackling and the persistence to stick with their marked player.
For a long period, this half it was deadlock between the team. Rugby unable to break through the strong defending of the Lionesses, and having to work hard when the pressure was on.
It was a true demonstration of the skills and passion that Rugby Town FC have fostered across both teams at the Under-8s level.
The Lionesses were able to capitalise on the passing and movement they’ve been working so hard on in training, challenging Maisie in goal. Sophie made some great signature runs, picking up from throw-ins by Phoebe, whilst Ada and Primrose kept running right to the final whistle.
All-in-all a very exciting game. Great to see how much talent was on display today and both teams should be proud of their efforts. Well done!
Players of the match:
Coaches – Paige
Parents – Charlotte
Players – Floss and Sophie
