Trailfinders Women beat Richmond 79-0 in a pre-season friendly match behind closed doors at Trailfinders Sports Club.
Barney Maddison’s side showed attacking flare in the opening forty minutes of the friendly against fellow West Londoners Richmond.
Dominant scrummaging from Trailfinders set up the opening attacking phases of play. Speed of ball gave Grace White the space to run down the wing and score the opening try of the match. A successful conversion by Niamh Gallagher took the home side to 7-0.
Set up with a fantastic break from Sophie Molton, Kira Leat went over the line for the second try of the match. Gallagher went two from two to take the score to 14-0 in the opening minutes of the match.
After Richmond gave away a penalty after the third kick-off, Ella Amory gained yards with her quick feet, setting up the Trailfinders for their third try of the match scored by White. Gallagher continued with her 100% kicking record to take the Trailfinders to 21-0 after ten minutes.
Richmond had a long way to climb in the opening half of the match, but Trailfinders’s defence was relentless and pushed the visiting side back until they kicked for territory.
Quick-footed Amory ran the ball down field, offloaded to inside centre Immy Wilcox for Trailfinders’s fourth try to take the score to 26-0.
After the first quarter, Richmond tightened up their defence staving off Trailfinders for several phases of play. But a swift succession of passes out to White on the wing saw her seal her hat-trick and the home side’s fifth try taking the score to 31-0.
White had eyes for the try line as she cut inside with the ball, finding the gap, running to score underneath the posts for her fourth. Gallagher slotted the conversion to take the score to 38-0.
A kick for territory was followed by a Richmond scrum in Trailfinders’ 22, but the women in green were too dominant in the set piece and the referee’s hand lifted in their favour.
Trailfinders remained relentless in attack and scored their sixth try with five minutes left to go in the opening half. Gallagher’s golden boot took the side to 45-0, before Trailfinders added their seventh try, down the right wing, just before halftime.
Half-time score: Trailfinders 50-0 Richmond Women
After keeping our visitors scoreless with a 50-0 scoreline after the opening forty minutes, Maddison made a full squad change at half-time, giving run outs to his wider squad, including those who return to the field after rehabbing long-term injuries.
With fresh legs on the field, Trailfinders went through the phases in the opening minutes of the second half. Haidee Head went over the try-line for an eighth try. A successful conversation by Rosie Inman took the score to 57-0.
A ninth try was scored after Trailfinders stole Richmond’s line out and mauled until they crossed the line and grounded the ball.
Richmond found some attacking phases but were still kept out of the try area by a well-drilled Trailfinders side. In her first run out for the club, Isla Norman-Bell went over for the tenth try with a delicious breakaway from her electric pace. Trailfinders stretched the scoreline to 62-0.
Trailfinders ran the ball towards the short-side and secure an eleventh score from the hands of Maya Champion who muscled her way through Richmond defence to bag another five points to take the score to 67-0.
Cassandra Tuffnail broke away and ran the ball under the posts for Trailfinders’ twelfth try. A successful conversion from Inman took the score to 74-0.
Rounding the evening off, Brooke Bradley drove forward from the five metre line to score Trailfinders’ thirteenth try and extended the lead further to 79-0.
Final score at Trailfinders Sports Club, Trailfinders Women 79-0 Richmond Women.
