Rosslyn Park 7 T-Birds (Thurrock Ladies)19 RUGBY: THE T-Bird machine rolls on with another win, but - on this display at least - not firing on all cylinders.

The waterlogged pitch at Rosslyn Park’s own ground forced a move to a sloping pitch with no facilities in the middle of Richmond Park.

The T-birds started well and played 20 minutes of attacking rugby. Camped on the Rosslyn line for ruck after ruck, flanker Laura Kavagna finally crashed over on 13 minutes for the first T-bird try with the conversion going to Emily Scott.

With Rosslyn’s star full back in the blood bin for a cut knee, T-Birds’ backs threatened to run riot and centre India Harvey added the second only five minutes later, with Scott the kicker again.

The referee sent two Tees players to the bin in quick succession for high tackles and, along with the loss of open side Rebecca Prosser who was ‘fly-hacked’ on the floor, the reshuffle destroyed Thurrock’s game plan.

A physical Rosslyn Park threw everything at the T-Birds for the first 20 minutes of the second half and were unlucky to be held up at least twice.

After a frustrating 25 minutes for both sides, Emily Scott took matters into her own hands in a great display of individual skill and scored Thurrock’s third try.

For a short time it looked as though Ts would push on for the bonus point but the loss of Katie Fenn to an ankle injury again disrupted their structure and in the failing light with car headlights constantly sweeping the pitch, the game ground towards it’s finale with Rosslyn Park again camped on the Tees’ line.

Deep into injury time with the referee finally calling last play, Ts defended yet another 5m scrum. A massive drive from the pack took the ball against the head and a clean sheet looked secure. But a sliced kick that missed touch dropped into the hands of the Park backs and their 15 and top try scorer Laura Wilkinson crashed over for a consolation score, the conversion making the result 7-19.

l T-Birds are still second in the league but with a game in hand, their next game is not until February 20 when they welcome Harlequin Ladies to Oakfield in Grays.