This season sees the U15s join with Saracens and Northolt to form the Middlesex Lions cluster squad, and the U18s with Saracens and Grasshoppers to become the Middlesex Tigers cluster squad. The squads were made up of a few experienced girls, but most were making their first appearance in a competitive game having only started this season.

The Lions played a triangular fixture against the Bucks cluster team, the Jesters, and the Middlesex Leopards – the U15s squad formed by Ealing and Grasshoppers. The first game against Bucks Jesters saw the Lions, concede an early try, due to the girls having literally just met. However, as the game proceeded they came more and more into the match, the defence growing stronger and they were able to hold off further try attempts. Confidence grew, and in the second half the Lions started to attack, but the Jesters always had enough defenders to prevent any Lions players breaking through. The Game finished 7:0 to the Jesters.

After a very short break the Lions kicked off their second game against the Leopards. Early Lions pressure unfortunately led to turnover ball and the Leopards scored from their own 22m. The Lions roared back and again pressured the Leopards line. The Leopards intercepted the ball on their own 5m line and ran back to score under the posts.

Half-time score: Lions 0 – Leopards 12.

The Lions kicked off the second half, a hanging kick just into the Leopards 22m, which was knocked on. From the resulting scrum the Lions broke left and managed to score out wide. The Leopards kicked off and the Lions ran it back into their 22m. The ball was recycled and passed out wide left. Even though the Leopards made their tackles, the Lions kept the ball alive in the tackle and passed it out wide to looping support runners, finally scoring in the corner. The Leopards kicked off again and the Lions ran the ball back to halfway before tuning it over. The Leopards attacked, but the ball was dropped and the Lions fly hacked it into the Leopards 5m line. Ball was recovered by the Leopards and passed back over their try line, but no defender could get to it before the Lions wing pounced to score. The try was converted. Again the Leopards kicked off and the Lions ran it back at them again. Strong defending by the Leopards saw the lions switching play from one side to the other, but to no avail. Finally a 5m penalty was awarded to the Lions for handling in a ruck. As the Lions forwards adjusted their position to attack in field from the penalty, the Lions scrum half took a quick tap and dived through a hole that had appeared in the Leopards defence.

Final score the Lions winning 22-12.

The Tigers faced the Jesters U18 squad. This was the first occasion that the Middlesex cluster squad had played together, and facing an experienced Jesters side proved a tough match. Although the Tigers competed well in the set-piece, their inexperience as a unit was highlighted in open play, as the Jesters forced frequent turnover ball. The game became very much a defensive exercise for the Middlesex girls, and although there were passages of positive attacking play, unfortunately they were unable to cross the try line.

Final Score: Bucks Jesters 48 – Middlesex Tigers 0.