Cheltenham Tigers vs Bristol Ladies 2nd XV - 26th October 2014

BRISTOL LADIES RUGBY MATCH REPORT

Cheltenham Tigers vs Bristol Ladies 2nd XV - 26th October 2014

Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV suffered defeat at the hands of Cheltenham Tigers this afternoon, with the final score ending at 48 – 12.

The first 10 minutes saw both teams playing a high level of rugby. The Tigers were fast at the breakdown and offloading well, but Bristol countered with exciting pace and players using their initiative to weave paths through the Tigers defence.

Tigers got the first try through Williams (11) who ran through a gap after a period of pressure in the Bristol 22, and followed up with a second on 23 minutes which took the score to 10 – 0 with the conversion.

Bristol’s Longdon Hughes led by example with some inspiring footwork, and Lauren Santini broke the Tigers line several times in the first half and Bristol were rewarded with a try of their own on 27 minutes.

On 37 minutes Tigers scored their third of the half, which ended with a score line of 19 – 5.

The second half started badly for the Bristol girls who let two tries through in quick succession to take the score to 31 – 5 and after a quick tap penalty from Hale, the Tigers found then 38 -5 up with 20 minutes to go. Their confidence began to grow, and Bristol found themselves on the receiving end of two more tries, before Bristol managed to get one back right underneath the posts, which was successfully converted. The final score ended at 48 – 12.

Forward of the match: Tash Doyle

Back of the match: Laura Santini

Coaches Pete Reakes and Matt Belbin spoke to us after the game. ‘As we’ve seen over the last few games, this is a new squad who are very much still getting to know each other. We’re getting a more regular team now, and the girls are feeling more confident in their positions, but we need to come out firing on all cylinders at the start of the game, and sustain it for the full 80 minutes. There were some fantastic individual performances, with great ball carrying, great strength and great footwork. We just need a bit more time to connect as a team and the results will start to change. The girls never gave up and our try right at the end is testament to their determination and pride in wearing that Bristol shirt’.

Squad List:

1. Tash Doyle

2. Toya Chapman-Mercer
3. Daisy Travers
4. Heidi Chapman-Mercer
5. Tara McGlade
6. Becki Belcher
7. Naomi Smith
8. Sue Neumann
9. Sammy Knighton
10. Jenny Fotheringham
11. Lauren Santini
12. Tatyana Heard
13. Polly Pearce
14. Siobhan Longdon Hughes
15. Stacey Jones
16. Natalie Lewis
17. Lauren Tracey
18. Evie Bunce
19. Ellie Marshall
20. Vicky Zaffiro
21. Beth Turpin
22. Sophie Cleverly

Bristol Ladies 2nd XV vs Hove Ladies – 19th October 2014

BRISTOL LADIES RUGBY MATCH REPORT

Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV vs Hove Ladies – 19^th October 2014

Bristol Ladies 2nd XV succumbed to a 0-29 defeat as they faced Hove Ladies at home this afternoon.

The first half saw the visitors score 3 unconverted tries taking the half time score to 15 – 0 (5m Teague (14), 22m Turnbull (10) and 40m Smith (11)).

After camping out in the Bristol half for the majority of the game, Hove put two more passed the Bristol ladies with two converted scores to end the game with a 0 -29 victory (63m Turnbull (10) and 66m Mayne (6)).

Forward of the match: Natalie Lewis

Back of the match: Tatyana Heard

A special mention to Ellie Marshall, who played her first match in Bristol colours today having worked her way up through the framework at SGS College.

Coach Matt Belbin spoke after the game ‘We tried to play a really up tempo style of rugby today, but basic errors and lack of accuracy results in cheap turnovers and loss of possession. It was a very frustrating game, and the whole team could have performed better. The positive is that we know exactly what went wrong and how to avoid it in the future. We didn’t push them at all. We’ll get back out on that training field, work on amending those errors and come back fighting, like we always do’.

BRISTOL LADIES RUGBY MATCH REPORT

Trojans vs Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV

12^th October 2014

After a thrilling encounter, Bristol Ladies 2nd XV secured their first win of the season against bottom of the table Trojans.

                                 

Trojans started off well and got the first points of the afternoon, although this was soon followed by a show of strength from the Bristol girls. After some impressive forward action, a slight wobble saw the team lose a line out only to take back possession and drive the ball over the line through Tara McGlade to level the score at 5-5.

Trojans hit back just before half time to take the score at the break to 12 – 5. Straight after half time a knock on from Bristol gave Trojans the advantage and they skipped through to take their lead to 17 – 5.

After the initial pressure from Trojans, Bristol stepped up and started to play the style of rugby they’re known for. Some quick hands from the forwards linked brilliantly with the backs to get the ball in to the oppositions 22, with Rebecca Defillipo expertly grounding the ball brining the score to 17 – 10.

With 10 minutes to go, Louisa Steer was on the end of some fantastic cross field play and ran in from 5 metres to take the score to 17 – 19 after Stacey Jones converted both tires.

The final 10 minutes saw extended pressure from Trojans, but excellent defensive play from the whole squad kept them at bay. After turning over the final scrum and kicking the ball into touch, Bristol Ladies came away with a hard-fought victory.

Assistant Coach Pete Reakes spoke to us afterwards:

‘We were making silly mistakes in the first half and letting Trojans through – we were playing to their level, rather than playing the standard of rugby we know we can play. At half time I told the girls they needed to raise their game – we had 15 quality players on the pitch with 6 equally talented girls on the bench, we just needed to play to our potential. And they did, they stepped up and we got the win. It was tighter than it should have been, but we’re thrilled to get our first win of the season.’

Captain Toya Chapman-Mercer was pleased with the way the girls dug in ‘It’s amazing that we’ve won, it was so tight but I’m so proud that we got there in the end. The girls really had to keep their composure in the last 15 minutes, that’s what I asked them to do and they delivered. We just need to take confidence from this performance and believe in ourselves going forward’.

Forward of the match – Tara McGlade for fantastic ball carrying and great work at the line out

Back of the match - Tatyana Heard who made some great running lines and tackles

Squad list:

1. Samantha Herrick
2. Toya Chapman-Mercer
3. Tasha Doyle
4. Tara McGlade
5. Louisa Steer
6. Heidi Chapman-Mercer
7. Naomi Smith
8. Sadie Giles
9. Sammy Knighton
10. Rebecca Defillipo 

11. Lauren Santini
12. Tatyana Heard
13. Polly Pearce
14. Rosie Kells
15. Stacey 'Welshy' Jones

SUBS: Lauren Tracey for Naomi Smith, Harriet Wilmot for Tare McGlade, Daisy Travers for Harriet Wilmot and Emma Lacey for Sam Herrick