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Report | Tigers endure tough loss to Trailfinders

Figure image

Beneath the glow of the Friday Night Lights, Leicester Tigers were brought back down to Earth by a sublime Trailfinders Women performance, in a match brimming with physicality and attacking flair.

The visitors kick us off and Leah Bartlett collects well, providing a strong platform to clear the lines. Abby Dow runs it back but the World  Rugby player of the year nominee is tackled well by Francesca McGhie. After a back and forth exchange, Tigers win the first penalty of the game and kick to touch.

Tigers launch the first set piece of the match, Tahlia Brody carrying hard. The visitors turn over the ball and look to launch their own play, eventually winning a penalty and kicking to touch. But it’s Tigers turn to turnover, Roisin McBrien rising highest to steal the line out and launch a counter maul to make strong metres upfield.

The game’s first big break comes from Catha Jacobs, the Springbok battering through the defensive line and allowing the likes of Amelia Tutt and Meg Jones to make incremental gains on a scrambling defence.

However, an offload gone array allows Trailfinders the opportunity to secure the game’s first score. Powerful midfield running gets the side all the way to Tigers’ whitewash, prop Liz Crake eventually burrowing over from short range after strong defence is eventually breached.

And just like that there’s a second score. From the scrum, the visitors whip the ball quickly out to fly half Ellie Green who has a plethora of strike runners to pick from. She chooses perfectly, Vicky Laflin hitting fresh air and sprinting through the Tigers defence, holding her composure to execute a two on one to perfection and hit Julia Schell making the support run on her shoulder.

Trailfinders have touched down for two tries in quick succession and a few minutes later they have a third.

Tigers had looked to respond swiftly and get right up to the Londoners five metre line with a rumbling maul, but the ball is ripped away right at the last second.

From here, the visitors build back up to the line and eventually whip the ball wide, Dow having both the speed and elite finishing ability to pull off an immense jumping finish in the far-right corner.

Tigers are all at sea here, completely shut out of any possession for almost 15 minutes and in desperate need of a score.

Elis Martin is the saviour here, the hooker stretching well to touch down from close range. The Scot scores her fourth try for Tigers, following a strong break from Meg Jones and then McGhie out wide, before the forwards do the rest and drive over.

However, once again the visitors strike back and stamp their authority on the match, with Liz Crake grabbing a second score of the game. A slick line out move sees the ball avoid the maul and move inside from the line out, Rowenna Burnfield sprinting through a gap. The Red Rose is stopped inches short but prop Crake picks and go’s and bundles over, with Tigers still flying back to cover.  

With the clock ticking down, the visitors defence holds firm and the score holds steady as the whistle blows for half time.

Half time score: Leicester Tigers 7 v 26 Trailfinders Women

The second half sees Julia Omokhuale and Eloise Hayward, on for her Tigers debut, enter the fray and the replacements make an immediate impact and lead to the second period’s opening score.

Omokhuale has added exceptional physicality, making three big breaks inside the opening two minutes, while Hayward is firing the ball around, allowing the forwards to make constant gainline metres, eventually culminating in Brody hitting a hard line through the centre and touching down beneath the posts.

From the kick off, the hosts cannot keep the ball though and the visitors tactically stretch their lead, having forced a penalty right in front of the posts.

This is a true basketball game and duly the game goes back to end to end action, the likes of Dow and McGhie forcing breaks across the park but stellar defence and a couple of missed opportunities at the line keep the scores level for the next 15 minutes.

In that time, Amy Cokayne has entered the field to a huge ovation from the Tigers family but, devastatingly, Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele comes off early following a knee injury, Eva Donaldson her replacement while captain Natasha Jones also exits the field and is replaced by Sarah Nicholas.  

However, it’s the visitors who keep control of the game and keep Leicester camped firmly in their own half. Trailfinders aim a volley of shots at the Tigers line but the side defend admirably, interceptions, scramble defence and the visitors losing that clinical edge in attack.

In a later post-match chat, Tom Hudson would detail how his side looked ‘tired’. It means that as time ticked away, the side struggled to create meaningful chances, half breaks quickly breaking down and long kicks returned with aplomb by the visitors, who were superb throughout.

Full credit must go to the Tigers family, who were in fine voice throughout a tough night at the office for Leicester. The team come away disappointed that they couldn’t do more to spark them up, on a dark night under the Friday Night lights.

Full time score: Leicester Tigers 14 v 29 Trailfinders Women

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 7-26 EAL

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 14-29 EAL

Attendance

Not available

Referee

Harry Walbaum

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
14

Full Time

Ealing Trailfinders Women
Ealing Trailfinders Women
29
Leicester Tigers
T
C
T
C
KOHTFT
Ealing Trailfinders Women
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
P

Match Stats

Leicester Tigers
Ealing Trailfinders Women
Possession
43%
57%
Territory
39%
61%
Penalties Conceded
14
8
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Tackles Won
147/174 84%
118/153 77%
Scrums Won
6/8 75%
11/11 100%
Lineouts Won
6/7 86%
10/11 91%

Player Stats

Leicester Tigers
Ealing Trailfinders Women
Leicester Tigers
TCDP
15Tess Feury
14Amelia Tutt
13Megan Jones2C
12Claire Gallagher
11Francesca McGhie
10Natasha Jones
9Amy Relf
1Leah Bartlett
2Elis Martin1T
3Lisa Cockburn
4Catha Jacobs
5Becky Noon
6Morgan Richardson
7Roisin McBrien
8Tahlia Brody1T
16Amy Cokayne
17Churchy Knight
18Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele
19Julia Omokhuale
20Eva Donaldson
21Zoe Warrington
22Eloise Hayward
23Sarah Nicholas

Commentary

FULL TIME

A final attempt at an attack breaks down in Trailfinders' 22 and the final whistle blows.

Full time score: Leicester Tigers 14 - 29 Trailfinders Women

SUBSITUTION| LEICESTER TIGERS

Leah Bartlett returns to the field, replacing fellow Scottish prop Lisa Cockburn.

64

STELLAR DEFENCE

Trailfinders' backline move is foiled by Meg Jones, enabling Tigers to win a turnover.

Both sides have had strong defence in such a competitive matchup.

SUBSITUTION| LEICESTER TIGERS.

Churchy Knight comes on for prop Leah Bartlett.

An injured Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele is replaced by Eva Donaldson.

SUBSITUTION|LEICESTER TIGERS

Making her tigers debut, Red Rose Hooker Amy Cokayne comes on for Elis Martin.

SUBSITUTION| LEICESTER TIGERS

Sarah Nicholas comes on for Natasha Jones.

PENALTY | ELLIE GREEN

On an initial penalty, Trailfinders kick to touch.

Moving down the line, the visitors win another penalty in front of the posts, Ellie Green makes collects the 3 points.

SUBSITUTION | TRAILFINDERS WOMEN

Sarah Saye comes on for Trailfinders

CONVERSION| MEG JONES

Conversion made by Meg Jones

TRY | TAHLIA BRODY

Julia Omokhaule makes two breaks in quick succession, before Tahlia Brody spots an opening for the try.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESER TIGERS

Julia Omokhale replaces becky noon at half time.

KICK OFF | SECOND HALF

We're back for the second half.

Tigers captain Natasha Jones' kick is collected by lock Julia Omokhaule on an awkward bounce.

HALF TIME

Tigers trail after a tough first half.

Half time score: Leicester Tigers 7 - 26 Trailfinders Women

CONVERSION| JULIA SCHELL

Julia Schell makes the conversion.

TRY | ELIZABETH CRAKE

From the line out, captain Tyson Beukeboom breaks through the line, stops just short but Elizabeth Crake drives over for a second.

SUBSTITUTION | LEICESTER TIGERS

Keia Mae Sagapolu Senale comes on for flanker Morgan Richardson.

CONVERSION | MEG JONES

Meg Jones slots the conversion.

TRY | ELIS MARTIN

Tigers are able to create massive gains with slick moves from Scotlands Francesca McGhie and Red Rose Meg Jones.

Tigers' forwards physicality enables Elis Martin to drive over for the host's first score of the game.

CONVERSION MISSED | ELLIE GREEEN

Ellie Green misses the conversion.

TRY| ABBY DOW

Trailfinders are able to convert another chance off the scrum, flinging the ball wide.

Abby Dow touches down in the corner. 

 

CONVERSION | ELLIE GREEN

Ellie Green makes the conversion.

TRY | JULIA SCHELL

A slick backline move off the scrum creates a line break for Trailfinders.

Julia Schell is able to finish the score, running a support line from the initial break. 

CONVERSION | ELLIE GREEN

Ellie Green adds the extras.

TRY | ELIZABETH CRAKE

Big hits from Meg Jones and Tess Feury are able to hold Trailfinders off, but Tigers are unable to stop the pressure from a meter out.

Elizabeth Crake pushes over the line for the first score of the match. 

7

ANYONE'S GAME THUS FAR

It's a competitive matchup in the first few minutes. 

Trailfinders Womens have been delivering big hits, while Tigers have been strong from set piece.

A big line break from Catha Jacobs creates the games first big meters, with Tigers well into Trailfinders half.

KICK OFF

We have kick off in Leicester, Ellie Green launches the ball into the evening sky.

Leah Bartlett collects.

-5

5 MINS FROM KICKOFF

We are from 5 minutes from kick off and both teams are out the tunnel ready to go.

Expect fireworks under Friday Night Lights.

-30

30 MINS FROM KICKOFF

We are 30 minutes away from kickoff at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as the crowd take their seats for Friday Night Lights. 

Both teams are in the midst of completing their last minute preparations before facing off. 


Opposition Lineup

Starting XV

15
Abby Dow
14
Vicky Laflin
13
Julia Schell
12
Carys Cox
11
Rosie Inman
10
Ellie Green
9
Emma Swords
1
Liz Crake
2
Cristina Blanco
3
Andrea Stock
4
Tyson Beukeboom
5
Amelia Buckland-Hurry
6
Rowena Burnfield
7
Megan Barwick
8
Shannon Ikahihifo

Replacements

16
Elisa Riffonneau
17
Cassandra Tuffnail
18
Sara Seye
19
Shya Pinnock
20
Charlotte Cheshire
21
Ella Amory
22
Jess Cooksey
23
Ellie Lennon

Team News | Cokayne in line for debut as Tigers return home

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The Leicester Tigers matchday squad to face Trailfinders Women in Round 12 of the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby season has been named.

Natasha Jones captains the side for the return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, which sees Red Rose hooker Amy Cokayne and cross-code flyer Eloise Hayward in line for their debuts for the club.

The starting side sees two changes from the derby day victory at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, a switch in the second row with the league's top overall tackler Becky Noon starting in place of Julia Omokhuale, while in the back row Morgan Richardson replaces the league's leading dominant tackler Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele.

The only additional changes from Round 11 are to the replacements, which feature two players in line for their Leicester Tigers debut and one for their 20th club appearance.

These include hooker Amy Cokayne, the summer signing now fully recovered from a niggling calf injury that had ruled her out since the summer, scrum half Eloise Hayward, a Wales international and Sevens star who signed for the club earlier today and versatile forward Zoe Warrington, who will earn her 20th Tigers cap should she enter from the bench.

STARTING XV
15 Tess Feury [9]
14 Amelia Tutt [6]
13 Meg Jones [10]
12 Claire Gallagher [4]
11 Francesca McGhie [10]
10 Natasha Jones (c) [30]
9 Amy Relf [29]
1 Leah Bartlett [10]
2 Elis Martin [10]
3 Lisa Cockburn [9]
4 Catha Jacobs [7]
5 Becky Noon [29]
6 Morgan Richardson [30]
7 Roisin McBrien [27]
8 Tahlia Brody [9]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Amy Cokayne *
17 Churchy Knight [27]
18 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [9]
19 Julia Omokhuale [3]
20 Eva Donaldson [9]
21 Zoe Warrington [19]
22 Eloise Hayward *
23 Sarah Nicholas [7]

*denotes Leicester Tigers debut


Leicester Tigers return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for Friday Night Lights on Friday, February 23!

Join us as we take on Trailfinders Women in Round 12 of Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby (kick off: 7pm), with tickets available from just £12 for adults and £5 for Under-18s.

Preview | Tigers look to build momentum against Trailfinders

Figure image

Ahead of a return home to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester Tigers are enjoying their best form of the season.

With two hard-earned away wins over Sale Sharks and local rivals Loughborough Lightning, as well as a nailbiting loss to the Champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, a game in which Tigers came away with two bonus points despite defeat.

Under tomorrow's Friday Night Lights, Leicester will welcome Trailfinders Women, Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby other newbies. The Londoners inflicted a tough defeat back in November, a 36-7 score highlighting a dominant performance from the home side and giving Tigers further drive to make amends in the return fixture.

This is a matchup sure to produce magic in attack, with a dazzling array of threats all across both backlines. The respective back threes alone possess some of the most dangerous runners in Europe, with Tigers speedsters Francesca McGhie and Amelia Tutt facing off against World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Abby Dow and flyer Vicky Laflin, who is fifth for offloads and seventh for defenders beaten across Allianz PWR.

In order to facilitate such pace on the flanks, a second key battle would be that of the two opposing fly-halves, Natasha Jones and Ellie Green.

Both act as key fulcrums for their respective sides, essential pivots in the centre of the pitch that allow the maximising of the speed and guile outside them.

For Tigers, Jones' exceptional passing accuracy has been critical in allowing the side to play with the width that suites such pace on the flanks, aswell as giving plenty of clean ball to two running threats in midfield in Claire Gallagher and Meg Jones. The captain has recorded a 96.4% accuracy in the 2024 Premiership, a figure that sees her sit in fourth place overall and amongst a host of scrum halves (who naturally have more time to pick that perfect pass).

Meanwhile, Green is one of the league's leading threats from the tee, a 70% kick accuracy one of the leading totals in Allianz PWR aswell as the joint-fifth most break assisted passes in the league, demonstrating the array of offensive weapons in her arsenal.

One potential key advantage for Tigers may be their incredible tackle dominance numbers. Whilst Rowena Burnfield leads Trailfinders with seven Opta-recognised dominant hits, Tigers have five players who either equal or exceed that tally: Becky Noon (also seven), Meg Jones (eight), Catha Jacobs (nine), Tahlia Brody (11) and the league leader Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele (an insane 17!).

Finally, it would be madness to talk about this game without mentioning the imminent debut of international superstar Amy Cokayne and when talking about the hooker, one statistic shines brightest above all: her astonishing Red Roses record of 33 tries in 72 caps.

Tomorrow, Tigers will return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for Friday Night Lights and based on the firepower ready to take the field, expect some stars to light up a dark Leicestershire night.


Leicester Tigers return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for Friday Night Lights on Friday, February 23!

Join us as we take on Trailfinders Women in Round 12 of Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby (kick off: 7pm), with tickets available from just £12 for adults and £5 for Under-18s.

posteamteam namepldwdlfadifftftatblbpts
6
Ealing Trailfinders Women
Ealing Trailfinders WomenEAL165011355515-16053816329
9
Leicester Tigers
Leicester TigersLEI162014300655-355471036110
Form Guide
Form
LLLLL
Last Match
Lost to Ealing Trailfinders Women 17-36
Past Meeting
Lost 17-36
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
WLWLW
Last Match
Beat Leicester Tigers 36-17
Past Meeting
Won 36-17

Matchday Live

Leicester Tigers14
Leicester Tigers
Ealing Trailfinders Women29
Ealing Trailfinders Women
Full Time