North Bristol Ladies 24
Bath Ladies II 32
You can view photos of the game here
The start of the Ladies season brought one the toughest opponents to Oaklands as Bath Ladies second team kicked off the season. Bath beat North Bristol twice last season so Head Coach Ellie Mulhearn knew it would be a tough start to the National Challenge South West 2 North campaign.
It was a tight tussle with both teams making big tackles and keeping the other attack at bay. Centre Kalee Hopkins led the charge in the backs with some resolute defence and Amy Eves produced some big hits from number eight. It wasn’t until the twenty-sixth minute that the scoreboard was troubled as winger Freya Ellis made an excellent break to score from thirty-five metres to cross under the posts. Charlotte Williams converted and North led 7-0. Williams almost added another try with a scintillating midfield attack but she was brought down just metres from the line and the chance was gone. That ended the half with the home side having a slender one score lead.
Bath started the second half like a train, scoring three unconverted tries in six minutes to lead 7-15, leaving North shell-hocked but after forty-six minutes powerful carries from Eves, Ice Asare and Hopkins set up the position for Williams to peel away from contact to score the try that brought North back to 12-15.
Bath were soon back on the attack though and despite a superb try-saving tackle from Phoebe Paddock, they scored from the next phase and converted to lead 12-22. Back came North and it was Ellis again who got the big crowd to their feet as she rounded the Bath wing and full back to score from sixty metres for the try of the game. Paddock converted the brilliant score to bring her team back to within three points at 19-22.
The heat and physicality of the game began to take their toll on the players and Bath scored two more tries to clinch the match at 19-32 but there was time for one more try for North Bristol as Tara Prudhoe finished off for the try after a superb break from Hopkins that left the final score at 24-32 and a win for the visitors after a bruising encounter.
Tries - Freya Ellis (2), Tara Prudhoe, Charlotte Williams
Conversions - Phoebe Paddock, Charlotte Williams
North Bristol Ladies League Record Against Bath Ladies II
Played 3, Lost 3, Points For 41, Points Against 106
It was a tight tussle with both teams making big tackles and keeping the other attack at bay. Centre Kalee Hopkins led the charge in the backs with some resolute defence and Amy Eves produced some big hits from number eight. It wasn’t until the twenty-sixth minute that the scoreboard was troubled as winger Freya Ellis made an excellent break to score from thirty-five metres to cross under the posts. Charlotte Williams converted and North led 7-0. Williams almost added another try with a scintillating midfield attack but she was brought down just metres from the line and the chance was gone. That ended the half with the home side having a slender one score lead.
Bath started the second half like a train, scoring three unconverted tries in six minutes to lead 7-15, leaving North shell-hocked but after forty-six minutes powerful carries from Eves, Ice Asare and Hopkins set up the position for Williams to peel away from contact to score the try that brought North back to 12-15.
Bath were soon back on the attack though and despite a superb try-saving tackle from Phoebe Paddock, they scored from the next phase and converted to lead 12-22. Back came North and it was Ellis again who got the big crowd to their feet as she rounded the Bath wing and full back to score from sixty metres for the try of the game. Paddock converted the brilliant score to bring her team back to within three points at 19-22.
The heat and physicality of the game began to take their toll on the players and Bath scored two more tries to clinch the match at 19-32 but there was time for one more try for North Bristol as Tara Prudhoe finished off for the try after a superb break from Hopkins that left the final score at 24-32 and a win for the visitors after a bruising encounter.
Tries - Freya Ellis (2), Tara Prudhoe, Charlotte Williams
Conversions - Phoebe Paddock, Charlotte Williams
North Bristol Ladies League Record Against Bath Ladies II
Played 3, Lost 3, Points For 41, Points Against 106
