GLOUCESTER HARTPURY VS TRAILFINDERS WOMEN

 

Trailfinders Women beat Gloucester-Hartpury away from home in our first ever PWR semi-final.

 

Tries from Georgia Ponsonby, Meg Jones, Emma Uren and a double from Isla Norman-Bell secured us a hard fought victory against the reigning PWR champions, earning us a place in our first ever PWR final on the 28th June at Twickenham Stoop.

 

Trailfinders kicked off to Gloucester-Hartpury in front of a roaring Queensholm crowd, with dry conditions and a tense atmosphere setting the scene for an exciting match!

 

Carys Cox was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on in our 22 as a Gloucester-Hartpury attack looked threatening. With a player in the bin, Gloucester-Hartpury scored through Tatyana Heard, and Lleucu George converted to give them an early lead. 

 

After driving up-field from a penalty kick to touch, Trailfinders Women put in a fantastic collection of phases in the Gloucester-Hartpury 22, resulting in Georgia Ponsonby diving over from close range to score a try just four minutes after Heard’s score. Niamh Gallagher couldn’t add the extras, but we had narrowed the gap with just 14 players on the field.

 

With momentum on our side Trailfinders Women attacked again, as the pack drove us forwards with some brutal carries. Claire Gallagher grubbered the ball through a splintered defensive line, and Meg Jones profited for our second try. Niamh Gallagher nailed the conversion to extend our lead to 7-12.

 

After some kick tennis between the two sides, Claire Gallagher spotted some space and cleared the ball forward, pinning her ears back to secure the bouncing ball, before offloading to Isla Norman-Bell, who ran in to score under the posts. From out in front Niamh Gallagher scored the conversion to extend our lead, with five minutes left of the half.

 

In the final five minutes of the half, Trailfinders Women started building phases in the Gloucester-Hartpury 22. Eventually their defence narrowed, and a crossfield kick found its way into Meg Jones’ hands, she stepped off her left and cut back in, before Emma Uren hit the ball at pace coming round the corner for a switch and dove over for our fourth try on the stroke of half-time. From the touchline Niamh Gallagher’s conversion sailed slightly wide of the uprights, but we headed back into the changing rooms at half-time with a 17 point lead.

 

Half-time Gloucester-Hartpury 7-24 Trailfinders Women

 

After five minutes of pressure from Gloucester-Hartpury they eventually scored when they span the ball wide to Rachel Lund, and George scored the conversion from out on the left.

 

Georgia Brock burrowed over from close range for Gloucester-Hartpury’s third try, and George added the extras to narrow the scores. Alivia Leatherman was also sent to the sin bin for repeated Trailfinders Women infringements. 

 

From out of nowhere Carys Cox cut inside and broke the line leaving multiple defenders in her wake, before offloading to the onrushing Isla Norman-Bell, who grabbed her second try of the game under the posts. However Niamh Gallagher ran out of time on the shot clock for her conversion attempt.

 

Despite some ferocious defence from Trailfinders Women, Hannah Dallavalle eventually scored out wide on the left. However they didn’t make the conversion, with George running out of time too.

 

With the clock in the red Gloucester-Hartpury tried to play out their own half, but after a knock on Isla Norman-Bell booted the ball to touch to end the game, with Trailfinders Women booking their place in the PWR final.

 

Full-time Gloucester-Hartpury 26-29 Trailfinders Women

 

Gloucester-Hartpury: 26

 

Tries – Tatyana Heard 10, Rachel Lund 46, Georgia Brock 51 Hannah Dallavalle 68 

 

Conversions – Lleucu George 11 47 52

 

Trailfinders Women: 29

 

Tries – Georgia Ponsonby 14, Meg Jones 20, Isla Norman-Bell 34 53, Emma Uren 40

 

Conversions – Niamh Gallagher 21 35 

 

Yellow Cards – Carys Cox 9, Alivia Leatherman 51

 

Barney Maddison has named his squad to travel to Queensholm to take on reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury in the 25/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby Semi-Final.

The front-row is made up of Alivia Leatherman at loosehead, Maya Montiel at tighthead and Georgia Ponsonby at Hooker.

The locks are World-cup-winning Black Fern Alana Borland and Scotland’s Six Nations Standout Player Emma Wassell.

The Back-Row contains newly capped Red Rose Haidee Head at blindside flanker and her Six Nations Grand-slam winning compatriot Abi Burton at 8, fresh off the back of her inclusion in the Women’s Six Nations Team of The Championship. USA’s Kate Zackary captains the side from openside flanker.

The Halfback pairing is speedster Isla Normal-Bell at Scrum-half with Canada’s Claire Gallagher looking to pull the strings from Fly-half.

The midfield partnership is comprised of GB Sevens star Emma Uren who has seamlessly slotted into that inside centre channel this season alongside Red Roses Captain Meg Jones just outside her at thirteen. Jones was this week named alongside teammate Abi Burton in this seasons Women’s Six Nations Team of the Championship after playing every single minute in her inaugural campaign as skipper in which she clinched a memorable Grand-slam title.

It’s an electric back-three, with Grace white at eleven offering fast footwork and raw speed. She’s joined by her Brunel teammate Niamh Gallagher who earned her first senior cap for the Irish National Team at this year’s Six Nations Championship. Welsh winger Carys Cox completes the starting XV, adding her international experience and athleticism off the wing.

Maddison has opted for a 5-3 split off the bench, with genuine firepower and quality available at his disposal. Cris Blanco features after winning the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship back in April for Las Leonas. Annabel Meta and Cassandra Tuffnail are ready to inject some ballast into proceedings as the front-row options amongst the replacements. Trailfinders’ Player’s Player of The Year Emma Taylor can bring game-management and experience to the side and Sally Williams can add dynamism and jackal threat to the breakdown. Sophie Molton will add quick thinking and fresh eyes to the game alongside Celia Quansah who has GB Sevens pedigree and Rosie Inman will slot in seamlessly in that fifteen shirt.

Kick-off is at 14:00 on Sunday 14th June at Queensholm Stadium.

Watch live on TNT Sports or head down to Gloucester to support the team!

Starting XV:

15: Niamh Gallagher

14: Carys Cox

13: Meg Jones

12: Emma Uren

11: Grace White

10: Claire Gallagher

9: Isla Norman-Bell

1: Alivia Leatherman

2: Georgia Ponsonby

3: Maya Montiel

4: Alana Borland

5: Emma Wassell

6: Haidee Head

7: Kate Zackary (C)

8: Abi Burton

Replacements:

16: Cristina Blanco

17: Annabel Meta

18: Cassandra Tuffnail

19: Emma Taylor

20: Sally Williams

21: Sophie Molton

22: Celia Quansah

23: Rosie Inman