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