Thurrock Ladies 69

Richmond 0

WOMENS RUGBY: THE Thurrock T-Bird victory at the weekend showed just how far the borough ladies have come in their game.

Just three seasons ago, Thurrock were beaten by Richmond thirds and Thurrock complained bitterly that the team had been packed with players from the seconds.

But in this 11 try trouncing, T-Birds brushed the Richmond seconds aside without breaking into a sweat. Richmond struggled to contain the T-Birds. And with Emily Scott and Rachel Burford back the T-Birds cast off the shackles of percentage rugby and cut loose. The team’s running rugby was based around a pack, led by hard-charging captain Mercedes Foy, and the team quickly dominated both the set piece and the loose play at the ruck.

The early try for Thurrock came from Phelps and then winger Dannie Harris outpaced the defence to run in under the posts.

Richmond struggled to penetrate the thin black and white line of T’s defence. Next to score were Rachel Burford and India Harvey to push the score to 28-0 on the half hour. Scott kicked all the extras.

T-Birds next points came from a maul and drive and Phelps claimed her second try for the vital bonus point. Scott rounded the score of to 35-0 with her perfect five out of five kicks.

In the second half with francis touching down for Thurrock’s sixth and Francis was over in the corner for the sixth of the day. She nearly scored again minutes later but Emerson picked up and dotted the ball over for number seven.

Phelps claimed her hat trick, this time on the end of a backs move and then Scott then executed a perfect cross kick for Harris to claim her second and Micallef rolled off the back of a maul unnoticed and sneaked down the blind side to claim the tenth try.

Fittingly, Scott closed the game out and then kicked her seventh conversion for a personal points tally of 19. She was awarded back of the match.

Thurrock: Emerson, Francis, Harris, Burford, Harvey, Scott, Cook, Convoy, Foy (captain) Micallef, Nichols, Jordan, Beard, Jordan, Phelps. Replacements: Wheeler and French.

Next game is away at Hove on Sunday November 24 (KO 2pm). The next home fixture is at Oakfield against Bristol seconds on Sunday December 8 at 2pm.

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