Aylesford Bulls ladies started the 2012/13 season in style scoring eight tries in their first game in Championship 1 South.
Cheltenham ladies were welcomed to the Jack williams ground for the first ever meeting between the two sides. The Bulls gave first starts to four recent signings, prop Caroline-Katie Olwa (Blackheath & Kent), Fly half Maia Tua-Davidson (Wellington & NewZealand RL) Centre Miriam Taylor (Tonbridge Juddians & Kent) & Wing Deborah Harwood (Sussex U18’s & London & SE U18’s).
The game kicked off in blazing sunshine that would be around for most of the game. The first 15 minutes were a typical early season encounter with both sides taking time to settle, early signs showed the Bulls had the edge in the set piece and break down with the Cheltenham scrum already starting to struggle at this early stage. The Bulls started to build some momentum through quick rucks and spread the ball wide just outside the 22 for Deborah Harwood to go over in the right corner for her debut try on 17 minutes, Fly half Maia Tua-Davidson added the extras.
The restart was returned with interest as the Bulls made their way back down field, Tua-Davidson put a kick over the top which Centre Rebecca Rowe chased through and managed to tackle the opposition full back close to the line her centre partner Miriam Taylor was on hand to pick the ball from the tackle area and dive over for her debut try on 25 minutes. This seemed to spark Cheltenham back into action as they put some good phases together and managed to find some space out wide for their speedy winger to go over from half way for a converted try. For the next 10 minutes the Bulls had to defend resolutely as they were a player short as Tua-Davidson was shown Yellow for illegal use of the boot, on her return to the field she quickly made up for it going over for the third debut try of the day from a quick tap penalty following more pressure in the opposition 22 giving the Bulls a 17-07 half time lead.
From the kick off the Bulls found another gear with the front row of Caroline-Katie Olwa, Jen Vik & Claire Phillips in total domination at scrum time and the back row of Kelly Davies, Jade Binskin-Barnes and Catherine Spencer making huge inroads in the loose. Ex-England captain Spencer took the spot light for the next 15 minutes going over for a hat trick twice being on the end of some superb attacking and off loading involving Davies & Taylor (45 & 55). The hat trick was secured on 60 minutes from a 5 metre scrum where the Bulls shunted the Cheltenham pack back over their line for Spencer to simply dot down. The Bulls also gave two league debuts off the bench to prop Siobhan Szecowka-Harte (Blackheath & South East) & 2nd row Hannah Sweatman (Beccehamians & Kent).
Five minutes later Tua-Davidson gave a fine example of Maori side step as she ran over the covering full back following a break from just outside the 22. The Bulls wrapped up the scoring with just under 10 minutes to go when replacement No.8 Iona Todd on for Spencer took a loose ball from a line out and had far too much power for the tired opposition as she crashed over from 5 metres out, giving the Bulls a deserved 42-07 win.
Team: French, Olliver, Taylor, Rowe, Harwood, Tua-Davidson, Dootson, Olwa, Vik, Phillips, Mayhew, Smith, Davies, Binskin-Barnes, Spencer.
Res: Szecowka-Harte, Sweatman, Todd, Lynch, Parker.