Match Round-up: Sale Sharks vs Trailfinders Women
Ten tries for Trailfinders secures them their first bonus-point win of the 2025/26 season
The opening contest in the centre of the field was quickly awarded with a Trailfinders penalty. It was taken quickly by Meg Jones who darted through the space to give Trailfinders ten metres.
A successful driving maul from the line out led to Trailfinders’ first try scored by Black Fern Georgia Ponsonby.
Sale Sharks responded quickly with attacking phases and were rewarded consecutive penalties. Sale opted for the set piece and drove their maul forward but Trailfinders kept their defence tight. But the home side stripped the ball out wide to Scotland winger Rhona Lloyd who scored for the Sale’s first try.
The aerial battle commenced soon after where both teams sought for territory from the boot. A Sale line out was disrupted by Black Fern Alana Borland. Sale knocked the ball into touch for a Trailfinders line out.
The powerful carry from Abi Burton allowed her to break into open play. The number eight ran just shy of half of the pitch for a second try for Trailfinders. Meg Jones successfully converted.
A dominant scrum from Trailfinders allowed Ella Amory to get the ball out to the back line. Scottish international Francesca McGhie got her hands on the ball, darting through the Sale defence. McGhie eventually got over the line for her first try as a Trailfinder after fighting through the collisions with Sale. Jones converted.
On the front foot, Trailfinders continued to carry hard, making their way towards Sale’s try line. Then magic Meg broke through the Sale defence for the bonus-point score. She converted her own score to stretch the lead after the opening twenty minutes.
The Sharks fought hard, securing penalties. Holly Aitchison continued to kick for territory. Lloyd found open field but was taken down by Trailfinders.
Awarded another penalty, Aitchison kicked to the corner. Amy Cockayne threw the line out, driving the maul forward and got Sale’s second score. Aitchison converted.
Trailfinders quickly struck back with a fantastic break down the right wing by Grace White. With open field, White finds Trailfinders’ fifth score.
Another break down the wing opened up the space for Canadian international Julia Schell to pick her line and score the sixth try.
Half-time: Sale Sharks 12-36 Trailfinders Women
Trailfinders continued with fast attacking play. Although a Trailfinders line out was initially disrupted by the home side, a knock on gave Trailfinders possession. They drove through the phases and were awarded a penalty.
A clean line out for Trailfinders wrapped in the Sale defence. Carys Cox found space and cut inside and scored behind the posts. Jones successfully converted.
With ball in hand, Sale went through the phases, Katie Childs created space and ran down field. She was tackled by Trailfinders wingers.
From the scrum, Sharks ran the ball down field until they went to the boot for territory. White chased and gathered, keeping Sale out of the try area.
Opting for the boot, Sharks kicked the ball into touch and Trailfinders had another line out eighteen metres away from their try area.
The home side continued to push forward but the Trailfinders defence remained strong. They were rewarded a penalty by the referee.
Sale continued to go through the attacking phases and were successful in securing another penalty. Aitchison kicked the ball down field but a Sharks line out.
Playing with advantage, Aitchison kicked to the corner once more. Five metres out from scoring, Sale lost the ball backwards from the line out but continued to push forward. Going nowhere with the short distribution, Sale sent the ball out wide once more to Lloyd who went over for her second try of the match.
After being shown a yellow card, Kate Zackary left the field with Trailfinders down to fourteen. Rachel Malcolm instructed in the pack for a dominant scrum.
Trailfinders went through the phases and faced physical collisions from the Sale defensive line. Yet, they kept level-headed and got the ball out wide to Carys Cox who scored in the corner. Jones successfully converted the kick on the angle.
With fresh legs on the field. Trailfinders continued to test the home side’s defence. Trailfinders penetrated through for another score. Rosie Inman got over the line and the try was successfully converted by Niamh Gallagher.
In a footballing kick chase, Rosie Inman booted the ball forward then the ball came off the boot of Claire Gallagher. Schell chased and scored for Trailfinders’ tenth try. Niamh Gallagher slotted the conversion.
Sale Sharks were not to be silenced though as Rhona Lloyd scored a bonus-point try for the home side and secured a personal hat-trick.
Julia Schell was awarded player of the match.
Full-time: Sale Sharks 22-64 Trailfinders Women
Sale Sharks –
Tries: Rhona Lloyd 8 62 78, Amy Cockayne 29
Conversions: Holly Aitchison 30
Trailfinders Women –
Tries: Georgia Ponsonby 3, Abi Burton 13, Francesca McGhie 17, Meg Jones 21, Grace White 33, Julia Schell 40 76, Carys Cox 43 66, Rosie Inman 73
Conversions: Megan Jones 13 18 22 44 66, Niamh Gallagher 74
Yellow Card: Kate Zackary 63