The game started at a ferocious pace, with the Middlesex forwards exerting considerable pressure on the Oxfordshire line, leading to a great try after two minutes from Becky. A couple of good attacking phases from Oxfordshire following some Middlesex penalties led to an Oxfordshire break and a try to level the scores. Oxfordshire had a long spell of possession but let themselves down with a succession of poor lineouts, allowing Georgia to kick Middlesex down into the Oxfordshire half.

The half finished well for Middlesex, stealing another Oxfordshire lineout, but unfortunately the ball was knocked on, and half time was called with the scores at 5-5. Overall Middlesex had a slight edge over Oxfordshire in terms of possession however had been unable to convert this into points.

Ellie makes a break

The second half began with a period of very scrappy play, and a series of knock-ons meaning there were 4 scrums in the first 10 minutes. A great turnover for Middlesex at the ruck led to a fantastic break and try for Becky, under the posts, making the score 10-5. Oxfordshire gathered the ball from the restart but were pushed backwards and pressure on the Oxfordshire line eventually told when Middlesex hacked the ball on. The ball was picked up by Fizz who ran in a try under the posts, and kicked a successful conversion.

Some continued Oxfordshire pressure led to some mistakes by Middlesex, and some poor tackling led to Oxfordshire’s second try, scored by their openside flanker. Oxfordshire missed the conversion, leaving the score 17-10. Oxfordshire once again took a good restart from Fizz, but didn’t make the most of a penalty, and knocked the ball on, gifting the ball to Fizz for her second try under the posts, and successfully kicking another conversion. Middlesex put in a fine tackling effort in the last period of the match, and disrupted more Oxfordshire lineouts.

The final play of the match was fittingly a great break by Aisha, but unfortunately she was just pushed into touch. The final score was 24-10, a brilliant win for Middlesex and their first of the season; it was a particularly impressive since they had not played together since before Christmas.

Especially well done to Fizz and Becky, who looked threatening throughout, and scored two fantastic tries each, to Georgia who’s tackling was ferocious throughout and exerted great pressure at the scrum, to Ellie the stand in hooker for some brilliant lineouts, and to Flo and Aisha, who both broke the Oxfordshire line countless time. Thanks very much to Oxfordshire for travelling down to play Middlesex, and good luck with the rest of your season.