Bristol IIs 10 - 22 Bath Rugby Ladies
Bath Rugby Ladies put in a superb performance in their first league game of the season to earn an impressive away win against local rivals, Bristol IIs.
The teams ran out on a sunny Sunday at Cleve RFC, and both sides looked strong from the opening whistle, though Bristol were able to build an early period of pressure in the opening ten minutes, as Bath conceded a few early penalties at the breakdown. The home side took first reward when strong running from their back row off a penalty set up a powerful first try, which was unconverted. 5-0.
The visitors fought back, showing great defensive skill to hold out further Bristol attacks and following a quick turnover, earned by the Bath forwards, the ball was pushed through the hands to reach Bath flyer, Nina Edwards, just outside Bristol’s ‘22, who showed great pace to cross for Bath’s opening score. Fly half Sarah Holloway added the extras to give Bath the lead, 5-7.
The home side were powerful around the breakdown and turned Bath possession over on a number of occasions and were able build their score at 20 minutes, when the home side drove over a scrum from the Bath 5 metre to add a try, 10-7.
However, following that score, Bath seemed to dictate the pace of the game, with 1-15 choosing to run hard and putting in some excellent offloads, finding gaps in what was a very physical Bristol defence. On the half hour mark, Bath fly half, Sarah Holloway, capitalised on quick ball from a ruck, choosing a fantastic line down the blind side and popping inside to number eight, Shantell Hearn, who made a great break, fixing a lone defender and passing back to Holloway in support, who ran in for Bath’s second score, bringing the half time score to a narrow 10-12 in favour of the visitors.
Bath continued to play great running rugby in the second half, with strong solo breaks coming from centres, Kat Southwell and Catherine Davidson, while the Bath back three put in some impressive defensive work to keep the Bristol attack at bay. At 55 minutes, strong running from Davidson punched a hole in the Bristol line, before quick ball through the hands once again found full-back Edwards, who took her second try in style, 10-17.
Bath were able to keep the home side pinned back in the final quarter of the game, with some great chasing of kicks and sustained pressure on the Bristol runners, which forced errors from the home side. The final Bath try came courtesy of a well-placed kick downfield from fly half Holloway, chased hard by winger, Abby Bull, who kicked the ball ahead in Bristol’s ‘22 and dropped on it five metres short of the try line. However, Bull quickly recycled, and scrum half Nina Croker showed quick thinking to flick the ball from the base of the ruck to Holloway, who crossed the whitewash to bring the final score to 10-22.
Back of the match went to double try-scorer, Nina Edwards, while Forward of the match was awarded to flanker, Laura Mahoney for her competitive work and game management at the breakdown. Bath Ladies are next in league action at home, against Drybook Ladies, on Sunday 18th September, and welcome all support to Lambridge Training Ground.