Easter Sunday saw the DSRFC / Oaks U16 girls travelling away to Bude. Given the recent weather, it was unusual to have a break from the rain and actually have a beautiful sunny day. The pitch was in good condition and apart from a fairly strong wind, it was a perfect day for rugby.
Bude are known to be a decent team and one of the best under-16 girl's teams in Cornwall, also having done very well in this season's National Cup. So it was fair to say the girls were a little nervous going into today.
DSRFC / Oaks started the game with a slight uphill and the wind against them. After the hour plus travel, it was expected that it could be a slow start. However, that was proved wrong straight away. The first 10 minutes was a pretty even affair with Bude using the big runners trying to punch holes, but the DSRFC / Oaks defence was up to the task and sucked up the initial attacks. DSRFC / Oaks themselves looking to run the ball from pretty much anywhere and with about 10 minutes gone some great handling put Alice over for the 1st try and Beth converting.
The first half continued to be a bruiser with both sides shifting the ball, but also defensively very strong. It was DSRC/ Oaks who once again broke the Bude line with the backs bringing the ball wide to the right and Indie crossing around the 15-metre line. It was Bude who put the pressure on in the next phase. Bude pushed forward and the ball being turned over in DSRFC / Oaks favour, but with the desire to run the ball out from their own try line only to have some loose passing and Bude capitalising to move the ball wide to the left, although some good defence and almost holding the ball up over the line, Bude were able to get their 1st try.
Bude began to use the wind advantage and put in some decent kicks. but it was the will from DSRFC to run it, almost a carbon copy of the previous try DSRFC / Oaks moving it right with this time Alice being on the end to score. DSRFC / Oaks continued to contest at every breakdown the forwards giving it everything, and it paid off for another example of how to move the ball wide and Indie getting her second. Just before the end of the half, Alice showed her skill with a deft show and go and getting her hat trick going in under the posts. Beth converting.
The second half began with Bude being the better side, pushing the visitors back. with their own strong forward play and winning a couple of penalties. They were able to use their strength to bundle their way over out on the left, and successfully converted.
That being said, DSRFC / Oaks having the slope and wind advantage began to take charge. continuing in the same vein from the 1st half began to dominate. With the addition of good use of the boot, pinning Bude back. With Beth even getting in a cheeky 50 - 22! The next score came from pressure with Bude in possession on their try line and with a turnover over Beth diving over from close range. Alice continued to show her strong running and again crossed for her 4th, with Beth converting.
Bude continued to defend like demons, but it was the visitors' pressure resulting in a penalty, a quick tap catching the defence sleeping, Beth taking advantage and going over under the post and converting her own try. DSRFC stepped up another gear and Alice was able to cross another twice in the closing minutes to get the double hat trick.

This was an all round awesome team effort and every try was hard work from the front 8 competing at the rucks and defensively very strong add in the fineness of the handling from the backs. This was a performance to be proud of.

Final Score Bude 12 - DSRFC / Oaks 62