Match Round-up: Trailfinders Women vs Sale Sharks Women

Trailfinders Women secure two losing-bonus points against Sale Sharks in Round Eleven of the PWR. 

An early knock-on from Trailfinders gave the visitors the upper hand in attack in the opening seconds of the match until they split the ball forward for a Trailfinders scrum. 

Sharks won the scrum and continued to go through the phases in the opening minutes of the match. But Trailfinders remained strong in defence and were awarded another scrum. The women in green held the scrum and scrum-half Isla Norman-Bell sent the ball downfield with a boot to ball with a Trailfinders chase. 

After gathering the returned kick from Sale, Trailfinders ran the ball down field, taking the ball further into Sale’s half. But the visitors defended well and forced a Trailfinders error to be awarded a scrum of their own. 

Sale kicked to the corner after being awarded a scrum penalty but after the visitors gathered from the line out, Trailfinders disrupted their flow and were awarded another scrum. 

A break from Alana Borland put the home side on the front foot. She passed outside to Cris Blanco who was in support but the visitors remained calm in defence and caused Trailfinders to spill the ball forward. 

Another attacking opportunity arose for Trailfinders: Cassandra Tuffnail carried through the Sale defence and offloaded to Niamh Gallagher who carried the ball into contact. Playing with the advantage, Sale conceded several penalties which gave Trailfinders a scrum five metres out for the try area.

As Trailfinders pushed forward and drew a penalty advantage from the scrum, referee Andy Wigley awarded the home side a penalty try for Sale’s infringement. The home side secured the first points after fifteen minutes. Wigley sent Sophie Benavent to the sin bin for the infringement. 

Determined not to let the numerical advantage deter them, Sale Sharks found attacking flow in Trailfinders’ half. Yet, the women in green remained relentless in defence. 

After struggling to go forward, Sale whipped the ball outside onto the wing for Asia Hogan-Rochester to run the ball in. The conversion was successful for Lizzie Duffy to level the score. 

Sale spilt the ball forward from the restart giving Trailfinders a scrum in Sale’s half. 

With the yellow card to Benavent finished, the home side were back to fifteen players. A scrum hold from Trailfinders set the attacking platform for the home side. Trailfinders’ backline broke down the lefthand channel until the forwards took hold of the ball to get their second try from the hands of Cris Blanco. 

Sale fought back and were patient with their phases. The visitors were fruitful and scored their second try from the hands of Katie Childs. Duffy was successful with the conversion. 

Trailfinders found themselves on the front foot as the clock ran closer to half-time, driving the ball forward from the maul. But the pressure from the visitors caused the women in green to spill the ball forward. 

The home side won another penalty after Sale’s repeated infringements in their half. Referee Wigley showed another yellow card to Sale, this time to loosehead prop Tysh Harper. 

Norman-Bell slotted the ball into the corner for a five metre lineout. Blanco peeled off the back of the ball to score in the left hand corner just before half-time. Niamh Gallagher slotted the extras to give Trailfinders the lead at half-time.

Half-time: Trailfinders Women 19-14 Sale Sharks Women 

Trailfinders came out from the break with attacking intent. Norman-Bell got taken out so Wigley awarded Trailfinders another penalty. N. Gallagher nudged the ball towards the corner. 

A huge carry from Grace Moore won the women in green metres after they secured the lineout. Alivia Leatherman had her hands on the ball and secured the home side the bonus-point try just minutes into the second half. 

Sale had a five metre lineout of their own shortly after and answered back with a try from the maul. Brittany Hogan scored the visitor’s third try and Duffy continued her successful conversion rate after slotting the extras. 

A strong midfield contest by both sides eventually went in the favour of the home side. The women in green edged forward in attack until Georgia Ponsonby forced her way over the try line for another try. N. Gallagher slotted the conversion. 

Sharks responded shortly after from close range and Amy Cockayne scored the fourth try for the visitors. Duffy slotted the conversion. 

Down to thirteen players after the referee had shown Kate Zackary and Annabel Meta yellow cards in the final quarter, Trailfinders held the scrum after Leatherman returned to the field for Meta. 

Yet, a charge down from Sale gave the visitors an attacking opportunity. Charlotte Fray scored in the left hand corner for Sale. A chase down from Vicky Laflin and Carys Cox put pressure on Duffy who missed her first conversion of the match. 

Two-points behind Sale with nine minutes to go, Trailfinders fought hard to obtain the upper hand despite the numerical disadvantage. 

Trailfinders found attacking flow in Sale’s half, carrying the ball into contact as time on the clock dwindled. Yet, a tackle on Trailfinders caused the women in green to spill the ball. 

With the Trailfinders crowd in full voice, the women in green still had an opportunity to claw back the two-point deficit. With the full compliment returned to the field, Trailfinders had an attacking line out just past the halfway line. 

Yet, a handling error from Trailfinders set the Sharks up for a kick chase in their own half and were eventually awarded a penalty. Duffy kicked to the corner. Trailfinders piled into the maul to stop Sale’s forward momentum. 

However, another slip in Trailfinders’ discipline gave the visitors another penalty. Duffy opted to kick for the posts and slotted the penalty to give the visitors the win. 

Full-time: Trailfinders Women 31-36 Sale Sharks Women

Trailfinders Women – 

Tries: Cris Blanco 31 40, Alivia Leatherman 41, Georgia Ponsonby 55

Conversions: Niamh Gallagher 40 56

Penalty tries: 16

Yellow cards: Kate Zackary 61, Annabel Meta 68

Sale Sharks Women – 

Tries: Asia Hogan-Rochester 23, Katie Childs 37, Brittany Hogan 46, Amy Cockayne 61, Charlotte Fray 70

Conversions: Lizzie Duffy 23 37 46 61

Penalty: Lizzie Duffy 80

Yellow cards: Sophie Benavent 16, Tysh Harper 38