Welwyn girls' teams still in with a chance of national cup glory

Both Welwyn girls' rugby teams are still in with a chance of reaching this season's National Cup Finals, however, the fate of the Under-18s, last year's national runners-up, is out of their hands after the first round of games.

Welwyn Saints' Southern section is being played between six sides in a round robin over two weekends to decide who represents the South in the U18 final.

The Saints won their first match against Thornbury, from Bristol, 22-0, but then lost their second game to hosts Reading 12-0. They had to play the whole of the second half with only 14 players due to absences and injuries, and this proved too tough. Welwyn can still progress, but would need to win their remaining games and for Reading to lose one of theirs in next week.

Warriors played an earlier round to decide who made it through to the Under-15's Southern section. First up were hosts London Irish U15s, last season's National Cup winners and a team Welwyn had never beaten. This time it was the turn of the Warriors in a remarkable 38-0 blitz. Rachel Mccullough scored a hat-trick of tries, with one each from Becky Dawson, Bryony Pomfret and captain Courtney Arberry also counting. Shira Kilgallon added four conversions.

The next game against Ellingham proved tougher and after leading 19-0 at one stage through tries from Charlie Faloona, Amber King and another from Arberry, plus one conversion apiece from Kilgallon and Abbie Maxwell, their opponents forced their way back to close the gap to 19-12 at the end.

Warriors U15 assistant coach Adrian Pomfret said: "We are now one of four sides left in the Southern Section who will play in a round robin to decide who represents the South in the Under-15 National Cup Final at Litchfield RFC in May. "We are now playing sides from different parts of the country, who like ourselves, are unbeaten this season, so it will be very tough, but we have a great chance of making it.