Trafford MV Women enters the new season with victory over Carlisle RUFC Cougars

Match Report by Ms Charlie Thatcher

Trafford MV Women entered the NC1 league with a bang, putting 29 points past Carlisle RUFC on home turf, with their defence faulting only once.

With all eyes on how the newly promoted Trafford MV Women would face last season’s silver medallists, the pressure was building for the league’s newcomers. Conditions were on no one’s side as the match began, with a heavy downpour working against both teams’ ability to catch the ball, limiting attacking creativity.

The home team quickly showed pack dominance, forcing Carlisle’s fly-half into relieving pressure and exposing what was learned to be the visitors’ go-to defensive strategy with a powerful returning kick, finding the backfield around MV’s fullback.

Despite Trafford finding themselves inside Carlisle’s half for the majority of play, MV’s first points came 24 minutes in, credited to Charlotte Smith, assisted by Sam Cooney’s offload from a line break. However, momentum was quickly halted when Carlisle closed the gap due to confusion around the laws in Trafford’s defence at the lineout, proving that knowledge can be more powerful than skill.

The home team ended their first half on a positive note, with a team effort try grounded by MJ Jones, stemming from the number eight’s 45-meter blindside pick-and-go from the back of the scrum.

Straight from kick-off, Trafford scrambled Carlisle’s defence, causing panic and a lapse in discipline, which eventually led to Trafford’s first score of the second half two minutes in, scored by the side’s captain, Madie Woodworth.

In an effort to swiftly extend their lead, the home team had a try disallowed by the sideline official for fine margins over the whitewash. Under high pressure, Carlisle didn’t manage to break out of their own half until returning for a restart after Trafford’s number eight, Charlie Thatcher, landed over the line for try number three for the team.

Feeling the heat of the scoreboard, the visitors turned up their intensity after the restart, edging through MV’s defence slowly but surely, almost getting the five points. Yet, once again, the hosts’ quick ruck speed earned them possession back.

After poor discipline from MV and many failed opportunities to score, Trafford’s captain’s involvement in the ruck jackaled the ball back, breaking the gain line before finding support from back-row-turned-scrum-half Charlie Thatcher, who added another try to her personal tally, finishing the day for the hosts.

After a tough game influenced by external variables such as the weather, Trafford MV Women started their NC1 North campaign with five points and rocketed to the top of the table with their 29–5 victory.The two teams won’t meet again until the final game of the season when TMVW visits the Scottish border in late March