WOMENS RUGBY: THURROCK’S T-Birds – relegated from the Premiership last season – have signalled their intention to bounce back.

T-Birds travelled to Bath for their Championship season opener and produced a 14-try thriller which illustrated the gulf in class between Level 1 and Level 2.

The T-Birds faced the kick off with some trepidation, having not won a game all last season.

Bath looked well organised and fit but it didn’t take very long for the T-Birds to take control.

After only five minutes Kat Emerson stole a ball in a ruck, broke three tackles and touched down. With the extras from Scott, the T-Birds led a League game for the first time since the 2010-11 season. They added to their lead when Bex Francis and India Harvey teamed up and Harvey bagged her first try to make it 0-12.

But Bath lifted their game and dragged the score back to 5-12.

T-Birds took control and a series of backs moves saw winger Bex Francis and a second for Harvey take the score to 5-22 at half time.

After the break, Nichols put a score on the board for the forwards and Francis claimed her second. Bath desperately tried to slow the ball down at the breakdown but only ended up with a player in the bin.

Lydia Beard scored her first for the T-Birds and the second for the forwards to bring the score to 5-39 and then T’s Scott and Burford linked with Harvey and Francis to cut a tiring Bath to shreds.

Harvey and Francis claimed their hat tricks and then Scott claimed hers. Unselfish Rachael Burford who had provided great ball for everyone outside her all game, fittingly claimed the last deep into overtime to finish off at 5-77.

Francesca Jordan was forward of the match and Bex Francis back of the match. T-Birds continue next Sunday away to Richmond’s 2nds before the first home fixture at Oakfield against Hove on September 22.

For borough rugby see the Thurrock Gazette every Friday