PWR Up Series Archives - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

Trailfinders Women were defeated 33-20 by Saracens despite a positive first-half performance at the StoneX.

Tries from Rosie Inman, Abi Burton and Jess Cooksey were not enough to secure the victory against Trailfinders’ London rivals.

The loss marks the end of the PWR Up Series, leading into the start of PWR, again away at Saracens on October 5th.

Trailfinders started the game by far the brighter side, looking pumped up for the physicality they expected Saracens to bring.

However, that physicality was not forthcoming early on and Trailfinders scored first from the boot of Emma Taylor, who knocked a penalty over from short range after the hosts were pinged at the breakdown.

The Canadian’s penalty seemingly kicked Sarries into gear who went up the other end in less than 2 minutes when Isla Alejandro went in the corner.

The frantic first ten continued. Trailfinders won the ball back from the kick-off and Ella Amory identified the space on the right, hitting a lovely dabbed cross-field kick into the hands of Vicky Laflin who found Inman on her inside shoulder to score.

Trailfinders’ were then well on top. Saracens were penalised for offside and Emory kicked the visitors 10m from the in-goal and, after the maul was sacked, Burton crashed through the Saracens defences to put Trailfinders two scores up.

The scoring then slowed as no side would be able to keep up the pace that the fixture was being played at in the first 15 minutes.

Fans at The StoneX had to wait until the 35th for any more scoreboard action. Trailfinders gave away consecutive penalties and from a 5m line out May Campbell was dragged over by the Saracens driving maul.

Halftime: Saracens 12-15 Trailfinders

Despite an incredibly positive first-half against the PWR’s most-successful team, Trailfinders struggled at the start of the second term.

Two tries were scored in quick succession for the hosts by Bryony Field and Poppy Cleall, and Trailfinders started to ring the changes looking to spread the experience in pre-season across the squad.

Trailfinders struggled for forward momentum and errors got in the way of many of their attacking efforts.

Then Bryony Cleall sealed the result for the hosts finishing an end-to-end move that took Saracens out of sight.

However, consolation came through Cooksey who dotted down in the corner after Sarah Denholm found her with a lovely floated ball to the right edge.

The result at Saracens marks the end of pre-season with Trailfinders making the trip to The StoneX in round one of the PWR.

Full-Time: Saracens 33-20 Trailfinders

Try Scorers:

Trailfinders: Inman (7), Burton (13), Cooksey (79)

Saracens: Alejandro (4), Campbell (37), Field (44), P.Cleall (52), B.Cleall (73)

Conversions:

Trailfinders: Taylor (8)

Saracens: MacDougall (38) (45), Linkins (53), Williams (73)

Penalties:

Trailfinders: Taylor (2)

Trailfinders Women kicked off the 2024/25 season in fine fashion, beating Harlequins Women 40-33 at TFSC.

Tries from Cristina Blanco, Grace White, Sara Seye, Emma Taylor, Kat Evans and Liz Musgrove sealed the victory for Trailfinders over their London rivals.

The win is the first of the two-game PWR Up series, which will take Trailfinders to The StoneX to face Saracens on September 21st.

The visitors started the brighter of the two sides. Harlequins had almost all of the ball in the first 10 minutes but could not convert the pressure into points.

That is until Maja Meuller crashed over the line, taxi’d in by the Quins rolling maul.

The score sparked the hosts into life. Vicky Laflin broke down the left wing, and after being brought down, the visitors infringed at the breakdown, meaning Ella Amory could kick the hosts into the opposition’s 22.

From the lineout, Blanco scored Trailfinders’ first try of the season, levelling the scores with Taylor’s conversion.

The hosts then struck again quickly after. Again a rolling maul, but featuring unusual personnel, as Grace White took the ball and dove over from short range.

The ding-dong battle continued with Quins answering right back through Freya Aucken, who sniped round the ruck to score on her debut for the West London club.

Harlequins kept pushing and took the lead back through Izzy Hannay, who latched onto a Clàudia Peña offload.

However, heading into the half-time break, Trailfinders took back the momentum, making several line breaks but failing to convert, until some composed pick and gos gave Seye the opportunity to crash over the line.

Half-time: Trailfinders 21-19 Harlequins

Despite ending the first well, Trailfinders started the second slowly as Peña scored after breaking through on a short line.

The visitors continued pushing and widened their lead to 12 points as Nicola Haynes scored from the back of another Quins rolling maul.

Following the theme of the game, Trailfinders answered right back just three minutes later as Taylor scored on her debut by latching onto a Brooke Bradley rifled pass from the base.

Then Evans brought the score level at 33 each. The Welsh hooker crashed over after peeling off a maul to score on debut.

Musgrove then sealed it with eight minutes to play. The Scottish flyer broke down the left wing and turned on the burners, streaking away from the chasing Quins defence.

Full Time: Trailfinders 40-33 Harlequins

Trailfinders Women:

Tries – Cristina Blanco 17, Grace White 23, Sara Seye 39, Emma Taylor 59, Kat Evans 68, Liz Musgrove 72

Conversions – Taylor 17, 23, 39, 68, 72

Harlequins Women:

Tries – Maja Meuller 12, Freya Aucken 30, Izzy Hannay 34, Clàudia Peña 44, Nicola Haynes 56

Conversions – Ella Cromack 12, 30, 44, 56