WHS faced Old Albanians (OA's) in a friendly match, arranged after Finchley U16s couldn't form a team. The match was played at 10-a-side and split into 15-minute quarters.

The match began with both teams evenly matched. Some miscommunication and inaccuracy in attack led to a stop-start opening. Within 5 minutes, both sides adapting to each other and easing into their rhythm. The girls were playing tight with lots of 1-up carryies into contact with support players scrambling to help each other out. Suddenly, from seemingly nothing, Amelie G burst through the middle of the OAs line and dotted down under the posts for WHS's first try, making the conversion easy for Izzy to slot.

WHS regained their structure and organization, with Poppy and Danielle orchestrating and executing set attacking moves. OA’s continued to fight hard to resist the constant pressure WHS put on them. The ball floated left through the hands and Annie’s got ahold of it and decided she fancied a 60m sprint to the try line, with Sophie outside her running a brilliant support line. WHS enjoying their 12-0 lead.

This lead didn’t last long as OA’s retaliated with a flurry of tries as they continued to exploit the extra space on the wings. A courageous defensive shift from the WHS putting in some huge tackles (most noticeably Amelie G, Amelie B, Morgot and Poppy) dislodging balls and forcing knock-ons in some cases, OA’s managed to claw together 3 tries and push ahead making the score WHS 12 - 17 OA’s.

WHS dominated the game, capitalizing on penalties and panicking the OA girls. They displayed powerful carries and eyes-up play, often requiring multiple defenders to tackle them. The forwards took over 5m from the tryline, attacking at the OA girls. Izzy finally barrelling over, tying the scores at 17 all.

WHS back line began to explore their creative flair. Poppy's ran double loops and all the backs ran brilliant support lines, constantly offloading to one another, almost like a Fijian esc backline. Eventually, the girls managed to get it out to the wing into the hands of Eloise who decided she wanted to give Annie earlier try a run for it’s money (pun intended), sprinting 50m down the far touchline and scoring the final points of the game.

Final Score: 22-17

The girls' really enjoyed thrilling friendly match against OA's leaving them 1-1, with the ultimate grudge match set for March as our league game, with the winner receiving all the plaudits.

Back of the Match - Amelie G. (Harpenden) - amazing carries and sturdy and reliant defender
Forward of the Match - Amelie B. (Watford) - demonstrated impressive defensive reads, executing lethal tackles and try-saving cover tackles,
Player of the Match - Poppy (Watford) - calling the orchestrating the attack and using her great ball handling and carrying skills.