Thurrock RFC Ladies show new season skills (From Thurrock Gazette)

T-Birds in action

10:18am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

WOMENS RUGBY: THURROCK ladies, the T-Birds completed their preparation for their forthcoming inaugural Premiership Season by travelling to old rivals Aylesford on Sunday.

New recruit – cap Rachel Burford, captain of England A and England Sevens – bossed the midfield and the game started well. Another newbie – the raw, but incredibly quick Tanya Pinkham – found space on the outside. And T-Birds comfortably eased away from a spirited Aylesford side. The T-Birds scored three tries in the first half to lead 0-17 at the break.

With both sides making changes to their look at different combinations and a Thurrock player being given 10 minutes rest, the second half was more even. And in this half Aylesford narrowly bagged three tries to Thurrock’s brace – but the flurry of scores left the score 17-27 to Thurrock.

Tanya Pinkham’s hat trick of tries won her Back of the Match and Katie Stopps – playing in the unfamiliar shirt of flanker for the first time – was Forward of the Match.

With another new recruit, 22 cap Irish international flanker, Louise Austin on board, the T-Birds open their account proper in the Premiership by travelling to Wasps on Sunday, September 9 and then hosting Lichfield at Oakfield on September 16.

Spectators are welcome to come and cheer the Thurrock T-Birds on. After the match the T-Birds players and staff thanked their sponsors – both old and new – who have enabled them to become the highest placed rugby side – of either sex in Essex.