AJ gives knockout blow to Chelt side
Bath Ladies were quick out of the gates and turned up the pressure from the off in this one-sided 23-5 victory over Cheltenham. They spent most of the first 10 minutes camped in Cheltenham’s 22, a large number of infringements led to many scrums. The pack’s patience and hard work paid off as Cat Davidson scored after the pack drove over, Sarah Holloway converted. The forwards continued to dominate the set piece and quick hands from a scrum put winger Hannah Meek in for Bath’s second try. The score was Bath 12 Cheltenham 0 at half time. Cheltenham entered the second half with some determined play and reaped their reward when their left winger scored in the corner. Holloway’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking over for Bath. They managed to cross the line again, Abigail (AJ) Johnson scoring after good work from Davidson. Holloway also scored a drop goal as Bath ran out 23-5 winners. Bath Ladies 2nd welcomed North Bristol to Lambridge for a spirited and closely-fought game which they won 24-27. Following 10 minutes of sustained pressure from the pack, winger Holly Edmonds crossed the line to score. North Bristol’s pack came back fighting, and after several forwardled phases levelled the scores. In the final play of the first half, Bath fly-half Rhian Evans made an interception inside the Bath twenty-two and sprinted 80 yards to touch down next to the posts. Bath leading 12-5 at half time. After the restart, North Bristol broke through the Bath defence to level the scores. However, Bath’s fly-half Rhian Evans once again intercepted the ball, to touch down under the posts. After end-to-end play, North Bristol broke through with their loosehead reaching over the line five minutes before time, tying the game. Bath weren’t to be denied, in the final minute a chip chase from Bath’s fly-half picked up by winger Holly Edmonds. She cut through the flagging North Bristol defence to slide home under the posts.