Bristol Ladies continue to support SOS Kit Aid

Bristol Ladies continue to support SOS Kit Aid

Bristol Ladies were delighted to hand over this seasons selection of old kit to the Charity SOS Kit Aid recently.

South West Director Ross Young came down to the club before the home games on Sunday 2nd November for the handover, where Club Chairwoman Heidi Chapman Mercer, Welsh International and Bristol Scrum Half Sian Moore and Bristol Number 8 Izzy Noel Smith presented the donation.

Bristol Ladies had gathered a selection of items for the charity, including a full strip, 20 balls, a set of cones and ten bags of old kit donated by players from the club.

Heidi spoke of the importance of supporting the charity. 'Bristol Ladies Rugby are proud to continue supporting SOS Kit Aid. As players and club members we know the importance of sport and the values it installs, knowing that our kit goes to benefit young people who would normally not get the opportunity to play and enjoy sport is really rewarding.’ 

SOS Kit Aid is a charity which collects second hand/surplus kit from clubs, schools, and individuals and redistributes it to disadvantaged young people giving them the opportunity to play and enjoy sport, whilst also making use of kit that would otherwise become environmentally damaging waste. Since 2001, over £3.5 million worth has been redistributed and last year 32 tonnes went out to 25 countries. Closer to home The 2nd Chance project in Bristol received kit. For more information on the fantastic work SOS Kit Aid does please visit their website at http://www.soskitaid.com/

Bristol Ladies 2nd XV vs Thurrock Ladies - 2nd Nov 2014

BRISTOL LADIES RUGBY MATCH REPORT

Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV vs Thurrock Ladies - 2^nd Nov 2014

Bristol Ladies 2^nd XV were unable to get passed the Thurrock defence this afternoon as they fell to a 0 – 37 defeat.

There were periods of excellent play during the first half with the pack showing aggression and pushing forward, and the backs linking well and completing passes with a high level of accuracy. After conceding one try in the early stages of the first half, the girls held strong showing their skill and determination and came close to crossing the try line twice in 10 minutes. Unfortunately a spell of increased pressure from Thurrock just before half time saw them score two tries in quick succession taking the half time score to 0 – 19.

Bristol took several knocks early in the second half and were unable to get through the Thurrock defence. Their fierce determination showed as the players tried their all to get that elusive score, however Thurrock powered on and ended the game with a score line of 0 -37.

Assistant Coach Matt Belbin was pleased with the performance despite the final score. ‘That was definitely one of the best performances of the season so far – individually and as a team. The players have listened to the coaches in training and I could see them using all the skills we worked on in training which is fantastic – you can’t ask any more. Our downfall was not being able to get the ball out wide and hold onto it, but we’ll work on during our week off and come back stronger next time around’.

Forward of the match: Tara McGlade

Back of the match: Rosie Kells

Squad list:

1 Sam Herrick

2 Becki Belcher 
3 Tash Doyle 4 Tara McGlade 5 Heidi Chapman Mercer 6 Sadie Giles 7 Lauren Tracey 8 Sue Neumann 9 Sammy Knighton 10 Jenny Fotheringham 11 Lauren Santini 12 Polly Pearce 13 Lucy Demaine  14 Rosie Kells 15 Stacey Jones 16 Natalie Lewis 17 Sophie Cleverly  18 Beth Turpin 19 Naomi Smith 20 Rebecca Cox

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

BRISTOL LADIES RUGBY MATCH REPORT

2014-2015

 

 

 

 Bristol Ladies 2nd XV vs Saracens Ladies 2nd XV 

 

 

A spirited and gutsy performance saw Bristol Ladies 2nd VX fall to a 15 – 0 defeat to Saracens Ladies 2nd VX this afternoon.

 

Saracens put three tries past the Bristol team, the first at 12 minutes, second at 45 minutes and third at 68 minutes. Bristol had several chances to score throughout the game with periods of pressure in Saracens 22, although their accuracy at the line out let them down at times.

 
The work rate and perseverance was clear for all to see, and Assistant Coach Matt Belbin was very happy with the performance ‘It was great – so much Bristol spirit and pride on show. The girls made it difficult for the opposition and didn’t give anything away. There were some heroic tackles, players putting their body on the line, and I’m immensely proud of the team today’.

Forward of the match was awarded to May Campbell for her solid defensive play and generally being as disruptive and possible for the opposition. Polly Pearce gained back of the match for her consistent and effective tackles.

Team sheet:

 1. Natasha Doyle
2. May Campbell
3. Harriet Wilmot
4. Tara McGlade
5. Nat Lewis
6. Lauren Tracey
7. Jenny 'Chip' Fotheringham
8. Becky 'Boo' Belcher
9. Becky Cox
10. Polly Pearce
11. Lauren Santini
12. Tatyana Heard
13. Emma Lacey
14. Rosie Kells
15. Stacie 'Welshy' Jones
16. Jen Lander
17. Beth Turpin

BRISTOL LADIES: TRAVEL INFO FOR SUNDAY 21st SEPT 2014 

Home game against Saracens

Bristol Ladies host Saracens this weekend in their first home game of the season.

After a disappointing loss to Richmond away last week, the girls are more fired up than ever and can’t wait to get back out on the pitch and show what they’re made of.

Kick-off is at 3pm at the Portway Rugby Development Centre (BS9 2HS), although due to the Bristol Half Marathon, supporters may wish to make alternative travel arrangements as road closures are expected.

For those travelling via the M4:

·         Exit the M5 southbound to Junction 18 (Avonmouth).

·         Follow the A4 Portway to Sylvan Way until it is closed

·         Left onto Sylvan Way

·         Second right at the traffic lights onto Shirehampton Road

·         Carry on until the Mill House pub is on your left, and turn right onto Sea Mills Lane

·         Travel to the end of the road by the viaduct and park where you can

·         Walk to the Portway Development Centre via Hadrian Close

We look forward to seeing you there.