Trailfinders Women secured a dramatic 39-38 victory over Bristol Bears on Saturday (25 January 2025) in an enthralling game at Trailfinders Sports Club.
Braces from Lisa Thomson and Liz Musgrove, as well as tries from Kate Zackary, Tyson Beukeboom and Grace Moore, secured the brilliant result for Trailfinders.
It was Trailfinders who started the strongest, getting an early try with only a couple of minutes on the clock. After turning over possession from the kick-off, Trailfinders kept it tight, and it was captain Zackary who went over at the corner.
The hosts were on a roll and struck again before the ten-minute mark. Ella Amory made a brilliant read to intercept a loose pass and take Trailfinders into the red zone. They were patient with ball-in-hand, and eventually, Thompson crashed over.
Bristol responded in typical fashion through their powerful driving maul as Atkin-Davies rumbled over at the tail for their first try.
However, Trailfinders were determined to keep their momentum high and had another on the 25-minute mark with Musgrove the beneficiary in the corner.
However, with the sun glaring down and a fast track at Trailfinders Sports Club, the tries were coming thick and fast. Bristol yet again responded as Joyce-Butchers managed to break a tackle and dive under the posts.
But Trailfinders got their bonus-point score in flashy fashion, with Thompson beating a player at short range and being able to dot down for her second.
Bristol had the final say of the half, with Millie David touching down in the corner.
But Trailfinders, in impressive fashion, extended the host’s lead yet again heading into the break with Amory hitting a cross-field kick to Musgrove, who took it and finished in the corner.
Half-time Score: Trailfinders Women 27-21 Bristol Bears
The visitors came out of the sheds on the stronger side, with Bonner making a break down the wing and finishing for the score.
However, Trailfinders continued to show their class, and Beukeboom crashed over for yet another try, and Moore added another brilliant line break to go straight under the posts.
The Bears were desperate to stay in the game, and they had another score through Millie David, who used her pace to break away.
Another try for the visitors through Atkin-Davies from close range meant Bristol had the chance to take the lead, but the conversion attempt from Bevan bounced off the post, meaning Trailfinders had a one-point lead with five minutes on the clock.
The Bears gave it their all, but the Trailfinders’ defensive set remained tight.
Cousineau was shown yellow for a high tackle, meaning the Bears had a penalty and an opportunity for a late score, but in an incredible effort, Trailfinders managed to hold the ball up over the line and secure a dramatic win.
Emily Bunder from EALING.NEWS caught up with Trailfinders’ Player, Ella Amory, after the game.
Ella, such an incredible game, how does the win feel?
“It feels amazing, like it does feel unreal. We’ve been working so hard for the last two years to get a win against a top four [team]. You know, we’ve come away from games about eight to ten times let’s say where we could have won it, and we just never did. And today we finally won against the other side of the scoreboard.”
“It feels good because we’re finally getting rewarded for our efforts and getting rewarded for the work that we’re putting in every week. So, it feels really good, but it shows that we’ve got more to show and I’m excited to end this year and look to the future as well.”
There’s a massive crowd here today, what’s it like playing in front of such a large crowd?
“Well, you know, I think Ilona Maher is part of it. She’s come with Bristol today and she’s brought quite a few people down as well. It’s a double header, so that helps. But it’s amazing to see [this] many people and I hope that people enjoyed the show today and want to come back next week to see us playing Saracens, another top team.”
Full-Time Score: Trailfinders Women 39-38 Bristol Bears
Trailfinders Women:
Tries- Zackary 3, Thomson 9, 31; Musgrove 25, 40; Beukeboom 54, Moore 61
Conversions- Thomson 33, 61
Yellow Card- Cousineau 80
Bristol Bears:
Tries- Atkin-Davies 20, 74; A. Joyce- Butchers 27, David 39, 68; Bonner 47, David
Conversions- Bevan 21, 27, 39, 75
