Trailfinders started so well. They worked their way gradually into the Bears’ 22, won a line- out and saw Cristina Blanco take a return pass to slip round the front for an easy try.
The rest of the game was to prove more of a trial.
On 18 minutes Bears had a penalty six metres out. Before they went for a tap, first two players over the ball skipped to their right to distract the defence. TF held the first thrust, but not Gwen Pyrs second time. 5-7
Lark Atkin-Davies added their next score, by a method all England fans will be familiar with. 5-12 But now Hannah Botterman was shown yellow, to even matters up a little.
Cassandra Tuffnail, no doubt introduced at No 3 to counter Botterman’s threat, made a huge break to threaten Bears’ line, but they lacked invention as they hunted for a decisive opening. Letting the move be forced into touch was the proof.
Then they reverted to their more impressive selves: a sudden cross-kick by Julia Schell was caught by a leaping Vicky Laflin, and she was over. 10-12
An unwise box-kick by Emma Swords allowed Bears to build another long attack. Gwen Pyrs ran a smart line to cross.
Half-time 10-19
As the day darkened, an offside gave Trailfinders another chance, but Dow’s kick didn’t reach touch – a costly error.
Now TF were undone by series of penalties. Another drive, finished by Atkin-Davies brought the bonus. 10-24
Schell almost found an opening, but there had been an earlier handling error. As two local products, Megan Barwick and Annabel Meta, came on, Bears’ scrum creaked. But a TF drive to the line was repulsed.
Bears’ counter-rucking was a powerful weapon throughout the game. All too often scrum-halves take their time deciding on their best move, unaware of a possible disruption to their plans. More teams might adopt this threat.
To add to TF’s woes, they once more failed to nail their line-outs. Referees couldn’t care less about scrum put-ins, but the throws have to be dart’s-champion straight.
TF paid for other unnecessary lost possessions, especially kicks ahead, but it took Bears a long while to get their fifth score, this one to Lana Skeldon. Meryl Smith converted well.
Will these Scots be performing like this in the 6N?
The last minute saw Bears camped on the hosts’ line and sure enough, it was Skeldon ensuring that the front-rows hogged all their tries. What would a critical Kiwi say to that?
Result: Trailfinders 10 Bristol Bears 38
Player of the Match: Gwen Pyrs
Afterthoughts
Once more Trailfinders showed plenty of promise, but it will take a while longer before they can match the fluency of the leading clubs in the land, and Bears are one of those. It might help if the two hookers practised five hundred throws each before next week. And they do need to complete promising moves.
I echo Tyson Beukeboom’s wish for all games to be aired on screen.
Once more an Ealing game was played late in the day. The RFU has taken a permanent dislike to Trailfinders‘ lack of seating capacity, but their lighting system needs urgent improvement first.
