WELLINGTON Vixens went down 19-10 against Chard Ladies in a tough but hard-fought battle at the Athletic Ground.

Vixens faced challenges before the game had even begun, with injuries and illness seeing their squad drop from 19 players to just 16 the day before kick-off. But that certainly didn’t dampen their spirits!

Wellington came out fighting, putting in some huge tackles and strong carries. Their hard work paid off in the 23rd minute when Max Pontin crossed the line for the opening try. Chard battled back just minutes later with a try of their own, bringing the scores level. The second half saw the Vixens really tested, with further injuries leaving them down to just 13 players. But giving up was never an option!

Despite being short on numbers, the Vixens dug deep, and Pontin once again found the try line, putting the home side ahead 10–5. A tense 15-minute battle followed before Chard broke through to score a converted try, taking the lead 12–10.

Vixens continued to fight until the final whistle, but Chard managed to cross the line once more to secure the win.

While the result wasn’t quite what the Vixens wanted, there was plenty to be proud of. To battle through injuries, play with just 13 ladies and still push Chard all the way shows the incredible heart and determination within this team.

The tackles, the effort and, most importantly, the encouragement between the ladies never stopped! A huge thank you to everyone who came down to support! Forward of the Match: Ellie Swann; Back of the Match: Nat Anderson, sponsored by Lewis Brown Chartered Land Surveyors; Players’ Players of the Match: India Davey,sponsored by Tiverton Tae Kwon Do Club; Courtney Sellick, sponsored by Courts Canines. The Vixens are back in action on Sunday, 1st November, travelling to take on Bridgwater Ladies.