COMEBACK WIN AT BEDFORD TIGERS GETS THE FERNS SEASON OFF TO A FLYER

Expectation in the Ferns camp is high following an excellent showing in 2025.  After commencing training back in April the team has faced a disrupted start to the 2026 Southern Championship season, and finally got their campaign underway on Saturday 27th June at Bedford Tigers.  For the first time at the All Golds club we had the Men and the Women all travelling together on the coach for a double-header in what was truly Mediterranean conditions!

The Ferns had a strong squad of 17 players – 12 of which had been part of the Ferns before, but with 5 new players on debut.  They were prop Abbey Constable, second row Elle Trezise, utility forward Raylee Caviell, outside back Emily Labrooy, and second row Harriet Pearce-Lyons.  It was great to welcome back Ellen Witt to the Ferns fold after a few years away, who started to the game at full-back.

The temperature on the field at kick-off time was high, but the players were excited and ready for action.  Straight from the kick-off the Ferns worked through a completed set, and very nearly scored on the last play following a kick through from Sarah Humphries, unfortunately just rolling dead before Ash Newbold could ground it.  The next 15 minutes or so were really even – some big ball carrying from both sets of forwards, some speed in the backline, and the halves looking to impose themselves on the contest.

It was the Tigers who struck first with a converted try following a line break around halfway.  The Ferns gathered behind the posts and composed themselves – however, this didn’t seem to be working as the Tigers quickly scored 2 more tries over the next 10 minutes, taking their lead out to 18-0.  The Ferns were up against it and needed to do something special to start turning the tide.  Up step the 2 half-backs – on the last tackle Humphries again kicked over the defence and Newbold dived on the ball to register the Ferns first try of 2026.

The Ferns were now on the ascendancy, and there was some big ball carrying from Constable, Fletcher, Hood and Trezise.  The team were showing huge improvements, but then the Tigers struck again to make it 22-4 with 7 minutes to go until half-time.  From this point forward though it was all Ferns – Newbold dummied her way through to score her second, quickly followed by Daisy Pearce-Lyons finishing off a great passage of play that involved some big carries and awesome off-loads to score a brilliant try, duly converted by Humphries.  The Ferns had hit back but were still down 22-14 at the break.

Patience and calm were the half-time messages, as well as a few ongoing interchanges.  Caviell and Addicott had been used and had provided some great go forward ball; Labrooy replaced the injured Witt at full-back; and Harriet Pearce-Lyons had defended well on the right edge at second row.

 The second half belonged to the Ferns!  The temperature had maintained at around 30 degrees, but there was no let up from the Ferns players.  Elle Trezise barged her way over to help close the gap, and this was quickly followed up by Amy Cook, playing at hooker for the first time, who scooted over from dummy-half to dot down for a great team try.  Chloe Fletcher stepped up to knock over the extras, taking the Ferns into the lead 22-24.

Next it was Newbold again, dummying and shimmying through the defensive line from 70 metres out, and outpacing all of the Tigers defenders to score under the posts for her hattrick try.  Humphries converted this score to push the Ferns lead to 22-30.  From here the message was simple – possession and territory are key, defend well and keep building in attack, let’s not let anything slip!  Both teams were going toe to toe with some great creativity and physicality being shown across the field.

The Ferns 7th try of the day was scored by captain Fletcher, who took a pass to break through the line, and decided a Samoan sidestep straight through the full-back was the best route to getting into the in-goal area to ground the ball!  Humphries converted again to take the game out of sight for Bedford.  The Tigers did score another converted try, but the game finished with centre Hyland taking the final pass on the edge to score a great try, with Humphries slotting the final conversion with the last kick of the game.  The Ferns win 28-42, and start the Southern Championship season off with a solid performance and great victory!

The Players of the Match, sponsored by Thatchers Cider, were hat-trick hero scrum half Ash Newbold, and bulldozing second-row forward Elle Trezise, on debut for the Ferns.  The Ferns player chosen by Bedford as their stand-out was loose forward and vice captain Jessie Hood, who had a fantastic all-round game!