A NEW look Andover Rugby Club Ladies 7’s Touch team visited Aldershot and Fleet at the weekend, for their long awaited first tournament of the season.

The young and inexperienced side travelled to their Hampshire rivals with three under 18s and four players debuting in their first tournament as the team rebuilds after losing 10 of last season’s squad to injury and retirement.

Although the results did not go their way, with Andover recording a draw and three losses, the coaching staff were proud of the efforts of the inexperienced side.

The first game was against hosts Aldershot and Fleet who got off to a strong start early on.

Andover offered too much space by not pressing hard enough in defence and it allowed Aldershot’s speedy left wing to score twice.

After a strong half-time team talk, Andover tightened up their defence and scored the only try of the second half.

Off the back of a scrum Sue Mitchell found Agnieszka Tyszewicz who sped to the corner to score.

Game two was against last year’s champions Fordingbridge who were always going to be a tough challenge for Andover.

Andover were not helped by an inexperienced referee, who allowed their opposition to score one of their three tries via an interception by an offside player.

Andover’s Sue Mitchell and Agnieszka Tyszewicz were also denied tries after being touched by offside defenders.

Andover’s last two games were both against Farnborough, with one ending a 1-1 draw and another in a 2 – 1 loss.

Sue Mitchell scored the Andover points both games, which were finely balanced affairs and could have gone either way.

Andover’s player of the tournament was awarded to debutant Georgina Blunden.

Andover’s team on the day was: Claire Hollishead (Captain), Agnieszka Tyszewicz (ViceCaptain), Sue Mitchell (Player Manager), Emma Hunter, Tara Bradbury and first timers Emily Porter, Caitlin Killick and Andrea Szasz.

Andover Ladies Touch Rugby team train every Tuesday evening from 7.15.

If you are interested please contact Andover Rugby Club: www.arfcya.co.uk.