Pink socks the difference as U12’s rediscover form
Virginia U12s continued their journey into the 15 a side game with a hugely improved performance against visitors from Leinster, when they took on Skerries last Sunday at the Deerpark. The match was a watershed moment as the team made a home farewell to the three star female players who have contributed so much over the last few years. The team sported bright pink socks in honour of Sorcha Higgins, Amanda McQuade and Rebecca Snell, who move on to ladies rugby next season.
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Despite a bright start by Virginia they were quickly hit on the break, and some loose tackling allowed the visitors over to score the first try to lead 5-0. The home side however worked their way back down the field, and in the end the pressure paid off when Aaron Kierans went over under the posts. Enda Maguire added the conversion to give Virginia a 7-5 lead. The forwards made up for last weeks lacklustre performance by bossing the breakdown, and the backs too had made vast improvements with great running lines and passing. Virginia continued to be a threat whenever they had the ball, and just before half time Cai Walker wriggled through the Skerries defence to give the home team a 12-5 lead.
Skerries would not lie down though and came back strongly in the second half. Virginia defended well and were holding them at bay until a loose ball was hacked through and confusion allowed Skerries to pounce and bring it back to a two point game. Virginia however upped their game again, and unlike the previous week their fitness held. A storming run by Rioghan Smith broke the heart of the Skerries defence and a great offload allowed Aaron Kierans to grab his second try of the day to make the score 17-10. Skerries heavily pressured the Virginia line but the home side held out brilliantly to secure the win.
Virginia were: Cian Doughty, Finn Lotscher, Aaron Kierans, Cai Walker, Aaron Mannion, Enda Maguire, Amanda McQuade, Sorcha Higgins, Ronan McKeown, Rebecca Snell, Ibykan Ajetummobi, Cian Martin, Evan Charters, Rioghan Smith, Michael McKeon-Boyle, Robert Lochaden, Killian Collins, Jason Henderson, Conor Hetherton.
