Tough task for T-Birds (From Thurrock Gazette)

Thurrock RFC women bloodied but unbowed

2:52pm Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport

Richmond 58

T-Birds 10

WOMENS RUGBY: TRAVELLING to the home of the Premiership League Champions Richmond was always going to be a tough task for the Thurrock T-Birds.

And although they were well beaten at the final whistle, T-Birds were bloodied but unbowed after a gutsy performance.

With a squad ravaged by injury and illness and missing their talismanic captain, Mercedes Foy, Ts struggled for clean set piece ball in both scrum and lineout. But they still looked dangerous on the rare occasions that they managed to get their hands on the ball.

Richmond got away to a good start with two early tries but T-Birds kept fighting and were rewarded with a try of their own when Gael Marcassus, in her first T-Birds start, peeled off the back of a maul and crashed over the line.

T’s then had good periods where they kept the ball and worked their way up the park, only to be undone by Richmond running away with turnover ball to score.

With Richmond’s England second row, Rowena Burnfield in the bin, T’s notched up another try from lineout and driving maul when Irish International Louise Austin powered over. Another score from Richmond gave a half time score of 27-10 with the T-Birds down, but definitely not out of it.

In the second half, Richmond’s class shone through. And despite Ts tackling their hearts out and mounting good attacks of their own, Richmond scored on a regular basis, crossing the line on five occasions, usually outflanking the tired legs of the thin borough squad.

Thurrock T-Birds’ forward of the match was Gael Marcassus for the second week in a row and back of the match was T’s own England U20 and Sevens starlet, Emily Scott.

The Thurrock T-Birds second string were away to Stanford-le-Hope in a London 3 fixture and ran out 64-0 winners, outclassing their local rivals.

All new players are welcome and the Second team will enable Thurrock to develop new players at a more appropriate level than the rigours of the Premiership.

This Sunday the T-Birds are at home to another huge name in Women’s Rugby – Saracens with the kick off at 3pm.

This is a huge game for Thurrock. The Thurrock second string are away to local rival club Thames in a top of the table London Division three clash.