Match report: Exeter Chiefs Women 19-5 Trailfinders Women
Exeter Chiefs Women secured their semi-final place in the PWR Cup with a three-try win over Trailfinders.
It was a tight first five minutes as both sides found their feet at Sandy Park. It had been 37 long weeks since Chiefs Women had played at their home ground so could be forgiven for needing a bit orientation.
Trailfinders had more of the early possession, but Chiefs were content to soak up the pressure. Chiefs’ first visit to Trailfinders 22 resulted in a penalty that fly-half Liv McGoverne kicked to touch. Chiefs got their maul going but failed to get over the line. Another chance went begging when full-back Merryn Elworthy could not quite collect a chip-kick from McGoverne.
Another lineout and maul opportunity though did prove to be lucrative with hooker Kayleigh Priest scoring her first try on her first appearance at Sandy Park. McGoverne added the extras.
And then the rain came! But that did not deter Chiefs Women from making the most of their territory. The forwards were happy to show some patience and kept recycling the ball to send over prop Alessia Skeates after 22 minutes gone. McGoverne’s conversion was good too to bring the score to 14-0.
As the first half entered its final 10 minutes, the rain did not look like abating. Knock-ons were the order of the day, which did not faze Chiefs as they were enjoying their time at the scrum. The women in black did not go over the try-line again in the first half but were successful in keep Trailfinders score-less.
Half-time: 14-0
Chiefs were playing into the wind for the second half, but the rain had at least let up. These were not as extreme as the conditions that been so critical in the final Rugby World Cup game played at Sandy Park, but the slippery ball was challenging.
However, Elworthy was a safe pair of hands under the high ball and succeeded in running it back at Trailfinders. A penalty on the visitors’ 22 saw flanker Maisy Allen take a quick one to release scrum-half Flo Robinson who spun the ball out wide for winger Katie Buchanan to go over for her second try in as many games.
The remainder of the game saw the home side dig deep to keep Trailfinders out of the match. It became a defensive battle which saw the Chiefs Women thwart an attacking run from centre Niamh Gallagher while Emily Robinson got stuck in to steal the ball from a Trailfinders’ maul.
Trailfinders did have opportunities at lineout time, but Chiefs managed to find a way to prevent them making any further progress even after head coach Steve Salvin made wholesale changes in the 68th minute. A new front row, including debutant prop Lilly Plowman, struggled at first but then settled into the work at hand.
The continual pressure from Trailfinders told though when flanker Charlie Holland found her way over the line in the 79th minute.
The game remained at 19-5 through the remaining 12 minutes of injury time, watched by a crowd of 984, hopefully including a few new supporters inspired by the Rugby World Cup.
Full-time: 19-5
Exeter Chiefs Women: M Elworthy; E Sterritt (E Hing 77), N Brennan (L Nye 68), S Langford, K Buchanan (S Harries 68); L McGoverne, F Robinson (vc); D Swann (68), K Priest (S Bekir Fuente 68), A Skeates (L Plowman 68), L van der Velden, E Robinson (c), T Bricknell (L Whitley 68), M Allen (vc), G Nigrelli (Z Dare 68)
Tries: Priest, Skeates, Buchanan
Cons: McGoverne (2)
Trailfinders Women: V Laflin (E Lennon 14); G White, N Gallagher, J Cooksey, R Inman; E Amory (I Wilcox 79), B Bradley (S Molton 79); C Williams (M Evans 72), N Swailes (H Jones 66), C Tuffnail (I Pomroy 72) C Brincat, E Taylor, C Willett, A Meta (A Buckland-Hurry 40+1), H Head (S Down 76 (N Swailes 90))
Try: Holland
Referee: Charlie Gayther
Attendance: 984