Manor girls cruise to finals

Eton Manor u15 girls made easy work of their semi-final, striding to the South East Area Finals with a 53-5 win over Dorking and Old Reigatians.

Two tries each for player of the match Simbi Sikiru, full back Nikiyah Talbot, and Maddie Fitch – starting at scrum half and finishing on the wing – as well as one each for forwards Amina Benajeh, Christina Campbell and Evelyn Weeden, topped off with four successful conversions from fly half Ellie Cunningham, ensured the girls' smooth passage to the South East Final.

From the kick off both teams probed, with Manor forwards testing their opposition until a sustained period of pressure enabled Weeden to touch down in a central position, with Cunningham making easy work of the first conversion. Manor girls capitalised on their early success, securing the turnover from the Reikings lineout, and passing to fullback Talbot, who burst through the line for a second converted try under the posts.

Reikings threatened to make a game of it, stealing possession at the scrum and breaking down the blindside for their only try of the game. Manor girls reacted well, with the forwards led by captain Scarlett Bowden bossing the play, gaining ground through the phases until Benajeh touched down in the corner. Cunningham, with arguably the kick of the game, fell just inches short with a top class conversion attempt.

Manor continued to pile on the pressure from the Reikings kick off, with Cunningham's catch setting up a stunning play from the backs, culminating in a second try for Talbot. The girls were cruising 26-5 with three-quarters of the game to go.

Manor girls were making excellent decisions, with the forwards sucking in Reikings defence to create space for centres Tamara Morrison and Amy Fitch to make vital metres, well supported by winger Ellen Darcy. Eventually a scrum near the line gave second row Campbell the opportunity to crash through, bringing the score to 31-5.

The girls were comfortably on top, but conceded a penalty in their own half, which Reikings chose to kick. A classy catch from winger Clio Goodwin guaranteed Manor possession with the forwards playing through the phases. Good ground made by hooker Isobel Wright and second row Sophie Watkinson released prop Sikiru for her first try, with Cunningham's conversion making it 38-5 at the half time whistle.

Reikings started the second half strongly, securing several turnovers before being stopped by a string of excellent tackles from the Manor girls, and some quality defensive kicking from Cunningham. Scrum half Nansai Mooney scrabbled the ball from the breakdown, to release Lauren Manners for one of many strong runs, repeatedly smashing through the gain line take Manor forward. Neat work from the backs freed the Fitch twins for a delightful exchange of passes culminating in a try for Maddie Fitch in the left corner. Cunningham's kick was narrowly wide, to leave Manor with a comfortable 43-5 margin.

Reikings continued to battle, with possession changing hands. Finishers Saoirse Clune and Maddison Kirrage made strong runs, with Kirrage stealing the loose ball and setting up a series of plays to take the girls into Reikings half. The visitors continued to fight, before Morrison intercepted and set off on a mazy run to take Manor within sight of the posts. The girls' momentum was disrupted by a knock on, but only temporarily as Wright hooked the ball from Reikings' put-in, with the ball passed out wide for a second try for Maddie Fitch.

The girls weren't done yet, with Sikiru crossing the line with the last play of the game to put the icing on an emphatic 53-5 win.