Trailfinders Women v Sale Sharks

Match Report

Trailfinders secured a bonus point 31-5 win over Sale Sharks Women at Trailfinders Sports Club in testing conditions.

Not even Storm Darragh could stop a flurry of tries from Trailfinders with Emma Taylor and Abby Dow getting over the line, as well as a hat-trick on her return from Abi Burton.

The conditions were horrific and had an undeniable impact on the style of play but it was Trailfinders who came out of the blocks the strongest with Burton’s first try.

She crashed over from close range before the ten-minute mark to get the hosts off to the perfect start.

Play became scrappy for the middle 20 minutes of the opening half as both sides fought the conditions.

It was Trailfinders who dominated possession but were struggling to execute in the final third; the best opportunity came from a teasing box-kick from Caity Mattinson to put Sharks under pressure on their own line.

Eventually, it was Burton who crashed over once again for the second try of the game at close range following a quick tap penalty close to the line.

The visitors hit back quickly, however, gaining entry into the 22 from a lineout and then went back down the short side for an easy run in for their winger Eva Wood.

It was Trailfinders who would have the final say before the halftime whistle, once again crashing over from close range and converting her own try to take a commanding lead heading into the break.

Half Time: Trailfinders Women 21-5 Sale Sharks Women

Once again, Trailfinders started the half quickly, and it was the lethal finisher, Dow who was the beneficiary, linking up from an offload following a brilliant break from Chloe Rollie and securing the bonus point.

As the sky darkened, the conditions somehow got worse, the wind and rain picked up and the temperature dropped even more

However, Burton remained on red-hot form, scoring her third to complete the hat-trick on the 60-minute mark, breaking over the try line yet again with tremendous power.

Sale remained in the fight for the full game; however didn’t manage to score any more points, and it was Trailfinders Women who came out on top at the full-time whistle.

It’s a vital win providing much-needed momentum as Trailfinders Women welcome league leaders Exeter Chiefs to Trailfinders Sports Club next Saturday for our Christmas Double Header.

Full-Time: Trailfinders Women 31-5 Sale Sharks Women

Trailfinders Women:

Tries- Burton 8, 32, 61 Taylor 40, Dow 47

Conversions- Taylor 9, 33, 40

Yellow Card- Schell 76

Sale Sharks Women:

Tries- Wood 36