Trailfinders Women secure a losing bonus-point in the West London Derby.
Under the Friday night lights at Trailfinders Sports Ground, the stage was set for a fierce match, with the lead changing hands constantly throughout the game. Harlequins emerged victorious, with a late converted try earning them the lead, but Trailfinders Women earned two well-deserved losing bonus points from the contest.
Early Trailfinders Women infringements gifted Harlequins Women field position with a kick to the corner, and a few phases after a maul drive, the visitors’ blindside flanker Aoife Wafer crashed over for the opening try of the game in the fourth minute. Ella Cromack was unable to add the extras.
Resolute defence from Trailfinders marched Harlequins back, forcing them to go to the skies, but the ball was touched in flight by a Trailfinders hand, providing them a lineout in the home 22. More strong defence in the ensuing phases earned Trailfinders a turnover, allowing them to clear their lines.
Poor discipline from Harlequins allowed Trailfinders to camp out in the visitors 22, and after repeated carries into heavy traffic near the line, Georgia Ponsonby crashed over for her side’s first try of the game. With a decent angle just left of the posts, fullback Rosie Inman slotted the conversion to hand Trailfinders the lead at 25 minutes played.
Trailfinders Women rumbled into the opposition 22 with a thunderous maul drive, before it was collapsed cynically by Harlequins. With a penalty advantage on their side, Trailfinders repeatedly attacked the try line, before number eight Abi Burton burrowed over from close range. From an identical spot to her previous kick, Inman was unable to add the extras, and Harlequins second row Abbie Fleming was sent to the sin bin for her part in pulling down the maul.
With just minutes to go until the end of the half, Harlequins fly-half Ella Cromack sniped through a gap to narrow the scores, but couldn’t convert her own score, with the first half finishing 12-10 in favour of the home side.
Half-time: Trailfinders Women 12-10 Harlequins Women
Scoring whilst a player down seemed to invigorate Harlequins as Aoife Wafer crossed for her second try of the game four minutes into the second half, but Cromack was again unable to slot the kick.
More poor discipline from the visitors led to Harlequins’ Jade Konkel receiving a yellow card, and Trailfinders chose to scrum down just five metres out from the opposition try line. A dominant scrum and slick hands led to Rosie Inman crossing for a score, and she duly converted her own try to give Trailfinders the lead.
On the hour mark both sides began to turn to the bench, adding energy to what had been an incredibly physical game already. Maia Roos powered through the Harlequins defence for a well deserved try, with the added impact of the Trailfinders bench proving decisive. Inman added the conversion to keep the scoreboard ticking over and extend Ealing’s lead to 11 points.
Aoife Wafer crashed over for her third try for Harlequins, sealing her hat-trick, but Cromack could not add the extras, with the score reading 26-20 in favour of Trailfinders Women with just eight minutes to go. Trailfinders replacement flanker Haidee Head was also yellow carded for an infringement near her line.
Carys Cox joined her team mate in the sin bin just minutes later, leaving Trailfinders to defend their lead with just thirteen players on the pitch. Despite some ferocious defence, including Isla Norman-Bell dislodging the ball from Ellie Kildunne over the try line, eventually Harlequins’ flanker Alex Callender broke through for a try. Claudia Pena assumed the kicking duties and slotted the conversion, providing Harlequins a 27-26 lead with just minutes remaining.
With possession off the restart Harlequins wound the clock down, before running the ball into touch to secure the win in a closely fought London Derby under the lights at Trailfinders Sports Ground.
Aoife Wafer was awarded player of the match following her hat-trick.
Full-time Trailfinders Women 26-27 Harlequins Women
Trailfinders Women: 26
Tries – Georgia Ponsonby 25, Abbie Burton 31, Rosie Inman 54, Maia Roos 66
Conversions – Rosie Inman 25 55 67
Yellow cards – Haidee Head 72, Carys Cox 75
Harlequins Women: 27
Tries – Aoife Wafer 4 44 72, Ella Cromack 38, Alex Callender 78
Conversions – Pena 79
Yellow cards – Abbie Fleming 31, Jade Konkel 53
