Jefferies predicts 'big things' ahead

By Harry Scott-Munro
11/1/21

Ebony Jefferies believes there are still ‘big things to come’ from the Exeter Chiefs Women’s side as they look to make their mark in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s.

Susie Appleby’s side moved up to fifth in the standings after they defeated near neighbours Bristol Bears 31-27 at Shaftesbury Park.

In a topsy-turvy game, tries from captain Linde van der Velden, Jefferies herself and Laura Delgado, two of which were converted by Gabby Cantorna, helped give the Chiefs a 19-17 advantage at the break.

However, the game looked to have swung early in the second half as Chiefs scrum-half Patricia Garcia saw red for a tackle on winger Jasmine Joyce, who moments later completed her hat-trick to give the Bears a slender lead.

The Chiefs, though, were not to be denied and their resilience shone through as a converted try from hooker Emily Tuttosi and a superb score in the corner from winger Garnet Mackinder sealed victory for the visitors.

“I think we really showed in the last 15/20 minutes especially how much we wanted it and how much we can really push through and get the result we were after,” explained Jefferies, who claimed her first top-flight try for the club.

“Of course there are lots of improvements still to be made, but I do think there are big things still to come.”

With Bristol holding the advantage after two Joyce tries, Jefferies picked a superb line off fly-half Taylor Black to burst through a gap, rounding the full-back to score at the home of her former club.

“It’s what we’ve been working on, punching through those holes and it’s really starting to pay off for us,” added Jefferies, who also touched on the healthy increase in competition for places in the Chiefs side with the recent arrivals of Rachel Johnson, Joanna Kitlinski and Laura Sheehan over the festive period.

“It’s massively geed everyone up. Everybody wants to be in the shirt at the end of the day and competition is very healthy so we will just keep pushing through.”