Millwall Venus XV

21st January 2007

Millwall Venus 0 Hampstead 69

Match report by Jodie Botha

A dastardly 12 o'clock kick off was never going to be easy for the Venus girls. However, fate worked against me and I found myself asleep in bed at 11 on Saturday evening not in the slightest bit drunk. A few of my other cohorts also found themselves uncharacteristically sober and home at a reasonable hour. It could only bode ill.

There was no small degree of false optimism when we realised that we had fourteen players, FOURTEEN, the nearest we'd been to a full team all season, and not only that we had a pack that were willing to attempt contested scrums. That and my finally getting the number 2 jersey back even cheered this cynical heartless harlot.

Remembering that in the days before Millwall, Venus had played it's first ever match at this pitch that snowed in October was not entirely comforting, fortunately there were only two Venus originals playing (and one disguised as a sniper spectating on the sideline) to remember the spanking we had received back then. While the day's score line probably had a lot in common with the one way back when the game itself was a very different one.

For starters Hampstead had to work for their tries. It was not a simple matter of kick off, receive, run and score. They actually had to work at the breakdowns to retain (and sadly) steal possession. They also had to play a very tough game, despite generally being able to bully the opposition a bit I got walloped and whumped a few times myself which made an entertaining change. Although Venus can take pride in the fact that the opposition couldn't break through the centre the superior running power of the Hampstead and in particular their troublesome full back meant that we were always going to struggle around the fringes.

Apart from a weakness defensively around the edges we gave the game away in three ways. Firstly, and this has long been my complaint, a failure to do the basics at the breakdown and look after the ball. We seem to be trying to run before we can walk in attempting to post the ball rather than place it and we were soundly punished for it as Hampstead took each hesitation as a gift and turned over the ball so many times because of this it was laughable. Secondly, there were too many missed tackles and thirdly and I feel like a broken record here but I'll keep saying it till people get the message, we have got to stop WATCHING the game and actually PLAY it. Too often we are letting the opposition dictate the game and we sit back and let them come to us. It makes all the difference if you run at them. When we did this they were dropping the ball and fluffing passes but instead of capitalising on the mistakes we were holding off and watching them pick the ball up and recover.

It wasn't all bad news though. There was more organisation at the breakdowns than usual and the fairly new pack were beginning to learn to think before ploughing everyone into the mauls. At times there was also more than one or two people chasing the breakaway runner too. More pleasing than that was the sterling work of the pack in the first contested game of the season. I have to applaud Vicky for doing what I'm not ever prepared to do and that is contest at second row. Not only did she cope magnificently but she swears she even enjoyed. Clearly the girl is stark staring bonkers but hey if it makes her happy it certainly ain't that bad for us. Despite the opposition driving before the ball was put in (although I suspect that their strength got the better of them rather than they were doing it on purpose) we won all but one of our scrums and one won of theirs back so it came out even. It wasn't a barrel of laughs in there with accusations of feeding going back and forth but as I always say, if the ref didn't see it didn't happen.

Having lost both our regular scrumhalves we decided to put new girl Jane (we picked her up at Vicky Park during her last home game – much to the delight of the male supporters I suspect) to the test and she coped marvellously with the pivotal position. I can't deny that she won me over when she ran full pelt into the opposition with a resounding smack and managed to get a perfect pass away at the point of contact. She seemed surprised herself given it was her first game in ten years but an onlooker would certainly never have guessed it. Our other first cap, Kasia or as she may well be better known as, Mrs Team Chico had a gutsy game on the wing. Bravely running in for tackles and also getting her hands on a bit of ball too. Can't help but feel a bit glad Chico wasn't their to witness his “baby bear” playing with the big girls, their might have been tears before half time.

Sharkey had a much improved (and I suspect a more enjoyable) game at blindside flanker. The pack suits her impulsive nature more than the necessary discipline of the backs. It was a welcome return to the side for “Team America” mistress Masi in the second row. We've missed that leggy lovely in the lineouts and I really enjoyed beating Mr Masi in a scrum off before the game. Nicole Buts seems to be settling well into the backs and put a few try saving tackles in, that die hard “Team America” spirit doing it's thing for her and for her fellow centre Andrea.

And last but not least I have to mention myself as I had a fair game. The amount of bruises and knocks certainly bear testament to the amount of contact I was involved in and I won't be winning bridesmaid of the year in a month's time with all the scratches on my otherwise lovely legs. I had a brief moments satisfaction when after taking down their number 12 she looked around, saw me and said “hey it's marshmallow girl!” glad to see the opposition remember me for my ability to shove food into my gob rather than what I thought were my not inconsiderable rugby playing skills.

Click here to read the match reports from last season