Dow’s solo effort gives Trailfinders cutting edge

By MO SHER

Trailfinders ….24pts

Tries: Zackary 6, Penalty 11, Dow 35, Schell 73

Conversions: Green 74

Sale Sharks …..22pts

Tries: Perris-Redding 20, 78, Harper 39, Swailes 50

Conversions: Irwin 21

IN this season of good will, neither side was willing to give at inch but it was Trailfinders that came away with the all important victory.

With both sides having registered just one win apiece, Trailfinders director of rugby Giselle Mather was delighted to bag a bonus point.

She said: “It was a really good game. We played some fabulous rugby at the beginning and then made far too many errors and Sale found their mojo. They're a physical, direct side so the next part of the game was massively defensive.

“But a bonus point victory at home just before Christmas, we've got to be happy with that.”

Kate Zackary got Trailfinders off to the perfect start with an expert finish from a powerful five metre scrum and minutes later Trailfinders' dominant set-piece yielded a second.

Repeated scrum infringements saw referee Andy Wigley compound Sale's problems by awarding a penalty try, leaving the visitors with much to do. But in Sara Tounesi and returning co-captain, Georgie Perris-Redding, they had two competitors who were relentless in their ambition to make it a contest. Perris-Redding reduced the arrears with a brilliant finish, a powerful fend and turn of pace taking her in under the posts.

If that was excellent, Abi Dow's score was sensational. After Trailfinders turned over a Sale scrum, Ellie Green quickly shifted the ball wide and Dow only had the touchline for company, and well over 80m in front of her.

Opting to pin her ears back, she went over unopposed in the corner for a try that will take some beating.

Sale, though, refused to buckle. Detysha Harper showed excellent dexterity to wiggle over the line just before the break, and when Niamh Swailes produced an intelligent finish off a well-executed lineout – coming off her own throw to take the scoring pass – the tie was level.

A scrappy 20 minutes ensued, which gave no indication of the grandstand finale.

Julia Schell produced a world-class moment as she exploited a gap on halfway before stepping Beatrice Rigoni in style to seemingly settle the tie, though Perris-Redding had other ideas. From a clean maul she was pulled over the line to make it a two-point game, Vicky Irwin pulling her conversion wide. Despite having time to have another go, the Ealing defence – minus Rowena Burnfield, who could only watch on from the sin-bin – held out, the win taking them into the top half of the table.