Match Round-up: Leicester Tigers vs Trailfinders Women

Trailfinders Women secure a bonus-point win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Trailfinders started fast, gaining metres in Leicester’s half. An offside penalty by the home side gave Niamh Gallagher the opportunity to kick to the corner. A successful line out and driving maul gave the women in yellow further momentum but a turnover ball gave the home side possession.

A contest in the midfield unfolded but a missed pass from the back of the Leicester maul gave Trailfinders the opportunity to press forward. Isla Norman-Bell fed the ball into the Trailfinders scrum but an early engage from the visitors gave Leicester the ball.

Trailfinders were not to be deterred in attack. Another driving maul gave Trailfinders yards and the second time proved effective as they came away with points. Cassandra Tuffnail scored the opening try and Niamh Gallagher added the extras.

Tigers responded quickly as inside centre Jemima McCalman broke through the field to score under the posts. Tess Feury slotted the conversion to level the scoreboard.

Trailfinders found attacking flow in Leicester’s half, recycling the ball quickly from the breakdown. But the Tigers defence stayed firm and led to a knock-on from the women in yellow.

The home side gained metres as Trailfinders conceded penalties. Feury kicked to the corner for a five metre line out. From short range, the home side etched towards the try line. Yet, Trailfinders were valiant in defence and held Tigers up over the tryline.

Leicester were set on scoring and did so from short range as their hooker Micke Gunter scored the home side’s second try. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Back in Leicester’s 22, Trailfinders won a scrum penalty and opted for the tap and go. The women in yellow formed a maul and drove the ball over the try line. Tuffnail was the recipient once more. Gallagher slotted the conversion to take the lead once more.

Niamh Gallagher made magic happen as she broke through the Tigers defence, stepping defenders to score from thirty metres out under the posts. She slotted her own kick.

Half-time: Leicester Tigers 12-21 Trailfinders Women 

The home side started strong and earned territory in Trailfinders’ 22. But Tigers knocked the ball on and Trailfinders were awarded a scrum.

Niamh Swailes made a huge tackle in Trailfinders’ half to force a knock-on from Tigers, giving the women in yellow a scrum. From the back of the scrum, Norman-Bell got the ball out to Gallagher who kicked a 50:22.

Emma Wassell cleanly gathered the line out ball and Trailfinders mauled forward until the referee brought the players back for a penalty after a Leicester infringement. Gallagher kicked to the corner. Trailfinders had a maul and thinking that Tigers had pulled it down, the referee ruled in the home side’s favour instead.

Leicester spilt the ball forward in their own 22 giving Trailfinders another attacking opportunity. After going through the phases from short range, Trailfinders eventually got over the line for a bonus-point score from the hands of Emma Wassell. Gallagher converted the extras.

Down to fourteen players after the referee showed Grace White a yellow card, Trailfinders were determined to hold their lead on the scoreboard. Yet, a forward pass from the women in yellow gave Tigers a scrum.

After coming onto the field for her PWR debut, Hayley Jones tapped and went five metres out, setting up the platform for Annabel Meta to score the fifth try. Gallagher slotted the extras.

Trailfinders moved towards the line once more, with an inside ball from Ella Amory to Hayley Jones but the Tigers defence regrouped and held Trailfinders up over the tryline.

The wave of Trailfinders attack continued however and the ball was stripped out to the left wing and Brooke Bradley scored in the corner.

But the home side were not to be silenced in the final moments of the match. Georgie Lingham broke through Trailfinders’ defence to score their third try. Feury slotted the conversion to end the match.

Full-time: Leicester Tigers 19-40 Trailfinders Women 

Player of the Match: Niamh Gallagher

Leicester Tigers: 

Tries – Jemima McCalman 15, Micke Gunter 30, Georgie Lingham 80

Conversions – Tess Feury 15 80

Trailfinders Women: 

Tries – Cassandra Tuffnail 14 34, Niamh Gallagher 40, Emma Wassell 57, Annabel Meta 73, Brooke Bradley 79

Conversions – Niamh Gallagher 14 35 40 57 73

Yellow card: Grace White