THURROCK T-Birds firsts enjoyed a 34-5 win at Beckenham Ladies in the Women's Championship South today (Sunday, 9 March).

The first try came from the hosts Amy Hooton but that was as good as it got for them and T-Birds added a brace of tries through Jessica Pettafor and Hannah Thornhill to lead after 12 minutes.

Jessica-Jane Scrace and Emma West crossed before half time to put T-Birds in command.

Corin Burch got a fifth try for T-Birds on the hour, converted by Ella Barnes - who also slotted the extras to complete the scoring after Scrace got her second try in the 70th minute.

Things were a lot closer at Oakfield's artificial pitch this afternoon, where T-Birds Seconds emerged 25-24 winners against East London Vixens, to keep their stranglehold on the Women's NC1 South East table.

Sarah Dyche got three tries for T-Birds with Amiee Shaw getting the other. Keira Ryan kicked a conversion and a penalty – the latter being the game's deciding moment.

With two matches to go, against Wasps away and Chesham at home, T-Birds have a nine-point lead at the top.

The league season will be completed before their Papa John Intermediate Cup semi-final at home to Newbury on Sunday, 13 April - with a place in a Twickenham final at stake.

East London scored first and T-Birds soon found themselves in arrears by 12 points, before Dych crossed five minutes before half time after a period of sustained T-Birds pressure. And, just before the break she crossed again to send the sides into the interval just two points apart.

That gap lasted just 40 seconds of the second half as Shaw surged over the line.

Dyche then showed her strength on the run with her hat-trick try, though by this time East London had been reduced to just 13 players.

Later, restored to full numbers they showed great spirit and continued to take the game to their hosts, scoring a fine try which was converted to make it 22-19.

And Thurrock found themselves behind when another break down the right ended in a Vixens try and a 24-22 lead.

That brought a sustained spell of Thurrock pressure that ended with the award of a penalty and Ryan held her nerve to seal the win.

Watch the match here: