Today Bristol Ladies secured an impressive victory over Championship South League leaders Thurrock in the second round of the Senior Cup. The team selected featured an incredibly young back line and allowed many of our less experienced players to show the coaching team what they were made of.
And that is exactly what they did, with Chantelle Miell (sponsored by Dambusters Rugby) running around the outside of the Thurrock defence to score the first of the afternoon after only a few minutes of play. Number 8 Liv Jones had a fantastic game, starting her first game of the season after seven months out with an ankle injury. She ran some sensational lines and broke through the defensive line multiple times during the afternoon – allowing Miell to score her second on 25 minutes, and getting herself on the score sheet shortly after half time.
The game saw the new look Bristol side accurate in their set piece, and prop substitutes Jeanine Stephenson and Ellie Mulhearn maintained the standard of scrummaging as they replaced Parsons and Acheson.
Maeve Liston and Rownita Marston added their name to the score sheet, both showing their pace and strength to run around the players on the field, and hold off the final tackle to cross the line. Vicky Foxwell, joined her SGS Filton College team mate Marston with a score of her own, battling over the line 5 minutes before the end.
The second row pairing of University of Bristol’s Clea Fawcett and University of Exeter’s Kayleigh Armstrong (sponsored by Maidenhead Aquatics) showed lots of promise, as each excelled at the set piece and in open play, and Cat McNaney, also at the University of Exeter, was textbook under the high ball.
Every player on the pitch went above and beyond for the Bristol badge today, which was in evidence during the final 10 minutes of the game, with Captain and Hooker Clara Nielson put in fantastic chip and chase to secure excellent territory – encapsulating the fantastic work rate and skills on the field today.
The final score ended 30 – 12, with Jones and McNaney securing the player of the game awards. Next week sees the 1st XV return to premiership action, as we travel away to Aylesford, and many of these players have put themselves in contention to secure a place in that team.
Kick off is 5:30pm at Twickenham Stoop, following Harlequins Men’s Premiership Fixture with Bath.
Final Score: Thurrock Ladies 12 – 30 Bristol Ladies
Written by Emma Bacon, Bristol Ladies Media (sponsored by Wring Group)
