Seven of Basildon Rugby Club's brightest young stars have been selected for Eastern Counties League team this season -- and they also helped their club to impress at a tournament in Wales at the weekend.
Hard-working scrum-half Sarah Howard is one of those to play representative rugby, and showed why by picking up the best English player trophy after a string of brilliant displays.
Welsh warriors - Basildon's Eastern Counties stars (from left) Sarah Beale, Jennifer Emerson, Kathryn Emerson, Holly LeGrave, Sarah Howard, Kat Richardson and Natalie Hume with team mates Lou Young and Laura Majoram who helped the team to the semi-finals in Wales Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Holly LeGrave -- who captained the Eastern Counties last season -- Katrina Richardson, Kathryn Emerson and Natalie Hume have appeared alongside Howard in the under-18s squad, while Sarah Beale and Jennifer Emerson have made the grade for the under-18s.
They played their part for their club at the tournament in Chepstow, to which the best 16 English and Welsh clubs were invited, where Basildon kicked off with a 15-0 win over Manchester Meteors, with tries from Hume, Lou Young and LeGrave.
They stepped up their performance level to convincingly beat Rickmansworth --under-18 English School champions -- 25-0 with Howard scoring twice, Hume and LeGrave crossing again and Kathryn Emerson getting in on the act.
Next up were Trowbridge, who were given a resounding 40-0 beating.
Emerson set them on the way again, LeGrave added two more to her tally, Richardson Hume and Howard all added tries and Veronica Ely and Laura White completed the scoring.
One sour note going into their semi with national under-18 champs Fullarians was an injury to Young, who was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken shoulder, while several other knocks were also picked up.
And fatigue took its toll in their last-four encounter as they went down 20-0 despite playing some outstanding rugby against the side that went on to take the title.
Fullarians' coach was impressed with Basildon, stating they were the toughest opposition her side faced.
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003
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