Anglian Vipers 28 – Bristol Golden Ferns 66
The Golden Ferns made the trip across to hosts Hemel Stags RLFC for the opening ‘magic’ round of fixtures to kick-off the Southern Women’s Championship 2025. Upon arrival it was great to see the opening game in full flow with the Army taking on Brentwood Eels, giving both the Ferns and Anglian Vipers players an opportunity to observe the action whilst preparing for our own upcoming battle.
Once the warm up was complete both sides entered the field ready for kick-off. It was great to see former Super League referee Ben Thaler with the whistle officiating this game, and from the very start it was clear to see that his experience and expert communication was really helping out both sets of players – many playing the sport for the first time. Anglian Vipers kicked off to the Ferns, who began working their way up the field with a series of big carries from Emily Marshall, Gabbie Collins and Jessie Hood. The set ended with a great kick into the left hand corner by Mel Wilkinson – an excellent end to the first set. Both teams built into the game and worked hard in attack and defence, but it was the Ferns that crossed the whitewash first. A midfield scrum saw a couple of offloads from the Ferns, resulting in hooker Bobbie Jackson using her pace to finish in the corner.
However, only a few minutes later Anglian Vipers hit back with a try of their own through Guadagnino who benefitted from some weak defence to sprint in under the posts for a converted try. The game continued in this vain for around 10 minutes, as Ferns captain Jessie Hood barged her way over in the first set from kick off for an unconverted try, which was quickly followed by a try for the Vipers through Ladbrooke, gain converted by Levesley. Referee Thaler soon signalled the 20-minute mark when both teams took the opportunity to get water on board, along with a few personnel changes and a discussion around tactics.
The Ferns then really hit their stride with some dominant attacking play. Wingers Katie Cobain and Zana Beka came more into the game with some carries as well as some solid defence. Second row Dee Latu was the next to cross the line for try converted by stand-off Ashleigh Newbold, which was quickly followed by a second try for hooker Bobbie Jackson. The conversion was again successful, this time scrum half Mel Wilkinson adding the extras. The Ferns quick speed of ball off the back of big carries in the middle from Alex Rowles, Chloe Fletcher, Taylor Addicott and Jessie Hood was clear to see, and was providing hooker Jackson lots of opportunities to exploit the gaps around the ruck. After some great work on the left edge from centre Daisy Pearce-Lyons it was Jackson who finished off by diving over the line from close range, and within minutes Jackson crossed again for a converted score. The Ferns were having fun out there, and some excellent footwork and pace from fullback Eloise Horton saw her attract a high tackle on the left touchline. With only a minute to go the ball was moved expertly in field, and it was Jessie Hood again who sold a dummy and burst through the gap to dive over.
The half time whistle was blown and after 40 minutes the Golden Ferns were leading 34-12.
A few more interchanges were made by the coaches John Gould and Alex Chown, and also a few positional changes too try really try and exploit some opportunities identified in the Anglian Vipers. KatieLou Horler entered the field along with Kat Harman, and both looked dangerous on the ball. Keeping the middle forwards fresh with interchanges seemed to work as the second half started with some more huge carries from Collins, Jennings and Rachel Marley, leading to two quick-fire tries from Hood and Jackson, one of them converted by Wilkinson. Arielle Weston was on at hooker, and her passing out of dummy-half continued to bring the best out of the big forwards. Anglian Vipers continued to work hard and disrupt the Ferns in the middle with some big tackles but this allowed the Ferns to demonstrate their edge attack. Moving the ball to the right hand side quickly allowed centre Enya Lackie to show a clean pair of heels to the Vipers defence to score a great try, and it was Lackie again minutes later this time providing the final pass to Horton, now operating on the right wing, to score her first try in senior women’s rugby, dotting the ball down in the corner.
Not wanting to be outdone by the right edge, it was the turn of the left, firstly centre Pearce-Lyons making a great break to finish a brilliant try, and then left second row Dee Latu, who put in some great defence as well as awesome attack, to finish off a great move on the left for her second try, this one converted by goal-kicking forward Chloe Fletcher. These tries sandwiched an effort from Vipers, as Guadagnino added her second again converted by Levesley. The last try for the Golden Ferns was scored by Enya Lackie, who is in the Scotland squad for 2025, out on the right edge again. The last five minutes of the game saw Anglian Vipers score two tries following some enterprising play that caught the Ferns cold at the end. However, it was too little too late and the Golden Ferns came away with a well deserved victory in the opening round of the 2025 season.
A brilliant first run-out for the team, scoring 14 tries in total, and winning the game 66-28. The whole team from 1-19 showed some great skills, heart and effort, and the coaches and everyone at the All Golds club are proud of what was shown in this first fixture. The two players of the match chosen by the coaches were hooker Bobbie Jackson, scoring 5 tries and looking a huge threat every time she touched the ball; and captain/loose forward Jessie Hood who carried and tackled well throughout with an excellent work-rate, also crossing for a hat-trick of her own.
