💫 Try-Line Tilly Reports…Yate Ladies vs Chippenham Ladies

Okay… yes, the scoreboard says 51–0.But if you only looked at the numbers, you missed the story.

Because what I saw out there was a Yate Ladies team that absolutely refused to roll over.

We went into this one knowing Chippenham were big, powerful and packed with strong ball carriers. We braced for a tough afternoon — but what we got was something we can be seriously proud of. This was a proper, gritty, full-on rugby battle, and we walked off that pitch feeling happy with how we played.

One of the biggest standout moments for me? Watching our defence smash their big runners backwards and force them out wide again and again. Every time Chippenham tried to punch through the middle, Yate were there — low tackles, big hits, and total commitment. That centre-field defence was rock solid.

And wow… can we talk about the mother-daughter dream team?

Liz stepped into the 9 shirt at the very last minute and absolutely bossed it. Calm, clever, experienced — she controlled the tempo, made smart decisions and even picked up Back of the Match. Unreal.

Tayler also stepped up to play out of position and was brilliant — dynamic, brave and constantly in the thick of it. When she went off injured, you could really feel her absence, which tells you everything about her impact.

Defensively, Yate were outstanding, especially through the middle of the pitch. The first half in particular was a proper statement — organised, aggressive, and full of heart. It was one of those halves that shows exactly what this team is about: turning up for each other no matter what’s in front of you.

There were some great individual moments too — and a massive shout-out to Holly, who made her debut and honestly… you would never have guessed. Confident, composed, and fearless — definitely one to watch.

Chippenham were exactly what we expected: strong ball carriers, well drilled and physical — but also brilliant sports. A tough, enjoyable team to play against, which made the whole match feel like real rugby, not just a one-sided contest.

And of course, the sideline… wow. The noise, the encouragement, the love — it really lifts you when you’re digging deep, and it showed just how strong the Yate family is.

We know what we’re working on next: tightening our attacking lines and spreading a little better in defence. But what we already have is huge.

So if I had to sum this one up?

Physical. Defensive. Positive.

Proud of this group. This was a loss on paper — but a win for belief, grit and where this Yate Ladies team is heading 💙💛