The girls got off to a great start and never looked back with each player contributing to an outstanding team performance. Bobbie Jackson scored four of the Thornbees eight tries.

Playing uphill the Thornbees struck early. Bobbie Jackson took a quick penalty and Sam Baker-Green charged through the Gordano defence before being hauled down in the visitors’ ‘22’. The ball was quickly recycled and Bobbie Jackson raced through to score. Shortly afterwards Sam Baker-Green set off on another powerful run as the Thornbees played at a different pace to Gordano, and only a knock-on prevented a second score. But that try did come a few minutes later when Danielle James chased a kick ahead, gathered the ball and raced over half way, passed inside to Claire Brealey who took play to the ‘22’ before passing inside to Bobbie Jackson who scorched in for a terrific second try. Charlotte Williams converted for a 12-0 lead.

The Jackson – Williams scoring duo struck again shortly afterwards. Sadie Giles picked up from a ruck on the Gordano line and offloaded expertly to the ubiquitous Jackson who crashed through a tackle to score. Charlotte Williams’ conversion brought up a remarkable 19-0 lead after just twenty minutes.

Gordano took play to the Thornbees’ line but good defence kept them out and a fine clearing kick from Charlotte Williams cleared the lines. Sadie Giles then stole the Gordano lineout and the Bees swarmed into the Gordano ‘22’. They were awarded another penalty and took it quickly, Sadie Giles made a break and space was created for Ellie Steer to score out wide. Gordano hit back with a converted try following concerted forward pressure on the Thornbees’ line but it was the home side that enjoyed a 24-7 lead at the break.

It was important that the Thornbees scored first in the second half to consolidate the lead and that nearly came when another impressive Sam Baker-Green charge almost put Gemma Tyrrell in. She was tackled to touch but Sadie again stole Gordano lineout ball and after an initial charge from Sam Baker-Green Milly O’Donnell drove through two tackles to score. A fine conversion from Charlotte Williams put the Thornbees 31-7 up.

The Thornbees scrum was on top but they needed to keep the ball away from Gordano’s dangerous backs. For the most part they did that, but hard running out wide from the visitors brought them a second try.

An indication of how the Thornbees’ hard work on the training field was starting to bear fruit came with the next Thornbees try. Having won a lineout the forwards drove then Charlotte Williams peeled away and fed Bobbie Jackson on a great line and she crashed through a tackle to score her fourth try. It was well organised and perfectly executed. The Thornbees led 36-12 with fifteen minutes remaining.

Gordano hit back with another try from their backs, ripping the ball from a Thornbee and capitalising on a poor tackle out wide. But the Thornbees were not finished and attacked from their dominant scrum. Bobbie Jackson and Rachael Underwood linked to create space as play moved towards the line. Laura Panting was up in support and showed good determination to score despite the presence of three Gordano defenders. Charlotte converted, then in last play Gemma Tyrrell and Millie O’Donnell made good ground and tied up several defenders before Sadie Giles took the ball and drove through two tacklers to score. The conversion brought up the half century and heralded the final whistle.

This was comfortably the Thornbees best result of the season, and in only their second season of playing rugby, arguably their best result to date. It has been a difficult season but the hard work of the players and coaches is beginning to show results.

Every player had a fine game and it would be unworthy to single out individuals for specific praise. This was a fine team performance with each player deserving huge credit. The pace and energy of the Thornbees was excellent, the support lines and offloading was light years ahead of where it had been recently. Gordano were left chasing shadows. It was an outstanding improvement and a thoroughly deserved, morale boosting win.

Thornbees scorers: tries – Bobbie Jackson (4), Ellie Steer, Milly O’Donnell, Laura Panting and Sadie Giles; conversions – Charlotte Williams (5)

Team:
Claire Brealey; Jess Case-Morris, Danielle James, Bobbie Jackson, Rachael Underwood; , Sadie Giles (c), Charlotte Williams; Sam Baker-Green, Lindsay Broughton, Dani Telka, Jo Johnson, Laura Panting, Julie Hutchings, Claire Kingston, Ellie Steer.
Replacements: Tina Pincott, Kyleigh Knott, Milly O'Donnell, Gemma Tyrrell, Sharon Kingsland-Wain

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff