Sunday 12 January saw Beckenham U18 Girls welcome local partner club Old Alleynians to Balmoral Avenue for our league fixture. The two teams are used to sharing a pitch but usually in the same colours, as we partner for the Cup competition. With OAs kindly loaning players to even-up the sides, we played a competitive 11-a-side fixture.

OAs opened the scoring early on and ran in several good tries in the first half, making the most of their strong and powerful ball carriers. Beckenham didn't give them an easy ride, making some thumping tackles and showing a ferociousness in defence that would characterise their game. Shortly before the half time whistle, a long kick-off from Beckenham and a good kick-chase saw OAs fumble under the pressure, with Lucy T quick to take advantage, pouncing on the ball and diving over the whitewash for a score - Beckenham's first first-half score of the season.

With half time, and a swap in the loaned players, both sides took back to the field. Beckenham's fight kept up through the whole game, but OA's structure and hard-running saw them run in several more tries in the second half which Beckenham were unable to answer. Final score 5-70.

As ever, the scoreline doesn't do justice to the effort the girls put in. Special mention to Lucy H, returning from injury in her first game back since September, who made tackle after tackle and showed she had lost none of her determination in her time off! Next week the girls welcome Tunbridge Wells to Balmoral Avenue.