Trailfinders Women v Loughborough Lightning

Match Report

It was an outstanding performance from Barney Maddison’s players at Trailfinders Sports Club, which saw Trailfinders run in ten tries in a thriller against Loughborough Lightning. 

 

Trailfinders’ ten tries came from braces from Ellie Boatman and Annabel Meta, as well as individuals scores from Abi Burton, Kendra Cousineau, Kat Evans, Vicky Laflin, Emma Uren, and Megan Barwick.

 

The game started at a rapid pace, which was maintained for the full 80 minutes, with a try from Abi Burton in the first five minutes, followed shortly after with one from Ellie Boatman, who glided over for the second and an early lead.

 

The visitors responded, getting their first after a strong rolling maul. The ball came out, and their centre crashed over.

 

It was clinical work for the hosts third, with the backline linking up well to bring Trailfinders into the danger zone, and Cousineau finished it off.

 

Once again, the visitors responded after a nice break by Francesca Goldthorp to bring them close to the line, but it was finished off by the Alicia Maude.

 

Meta got in on the try-scoring action for her first score after some patient build-up play paired with a scorcher of a try a few minutes later as the back-line once again worked in tandem, offloading inside and out until Boatman finished it off for her second.

 

Unfortunately for Trailfinders, Abi Burton would be shown red before the break, and Lightning scored again, striking with the player advantage.

 

Half-Time – Ealing Trailfinders Women 33-19 Loughborough Lightning

 

Evans opened for scoring for the second half in a close-range effort after being denied by being held up over the line a few moments before.

 

Loughborough struck for another score off a well-worked set play move from a lineout, but it took a TMO check for it to be given.

 

Meta would get her double after a barnstorming run, crashing through and over the line. The game became level after Lightning second-row Abby Duguid was shown red for a high tackle.

 

There was a bit of Vicky Laflin magic in a textbook score from the fullback for the next one, making a break down the wing seem easy and dotting the ball down over the line.

 

No matter how many the hosts scored, Loughborough kept fighting and scored another from close range.

 

However, the next try from Trailfinders was mesmeric, each team making breaks and winning turnovers until Uren was able to break free and find a gap in the defence and get her score.

 

The last try from Trailfinders took it to ten in the match and over 60 points as Barwick crashed over from close range.

 

It was a breathless game and a real advert for the calibre of rugby on show in the PWR. Trailfinders will look to carry the momentum into their next fixture in a couple of weeks’ time down at Sandy Park.

 

Full-Time – Ealing Trailfinders Women 64-33 Loughborough Lightning

 

Ealing Trailfinders Women:

Tries- Burton 5, Boatman 9, 36; Cousineau 23, Meta 31, 54; Evans 45, Laflin 62, Uren 72, Barwick 75

Conversions- Taylor 11, 24, 38, 46, 56, Taylor 77

Red Card- Abi Burton 38

 

Loughborough Lightning:

Tries- Morrall 21, Maude 27, Hibbert-Jones 39, Williams 52, Goldthorp 68

Conversions- Green 27, 39 52, 68

Red Card- Abby Duguid 57