Winning a tough game is one thing. Doing it two years in a row? That’s proper bragging rights. Yorkshire’s women’s rugby team pulled off something special on 21st June 2025—they defended their Gill Burns Women’s County Championship Division One title in a thriller against Buckinghamshire at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. And honestly, it came down to the wire.
Let’s be real, if you’re a rugby fan (or just like hearing underdog-style stories with grit and glory), this one’s got all the drama you’d want. Tight scoreline, a last-second kick, some crunching tackles and loads of heart.
Yorkshire’s dream finish again
Yorkshire didn’t just win. They scraped, clawed, and hustled every second of that final. With the score locked late in the game, it all came down to Alex Taylor-Roberts, who slotted a penalty in the final play to make it 29–19. Imagine the pressure. 80 minutes of hits, runs, and tackles, and then you have to win it with your boot. Cool as anything, she did.
That meant Yorkshire backed up last year’s title win against Surrey and now sit pretty with back-to-back county championships.
Head coach Tom Baxter, who’s been leading the team for four years, said it best:
“It’s the pinnacle of some of these players’ careers. They are the memories they will create… To top it off, playing here at the Home of Rugby, it’s pretty massive, pretty special.”
How the match played out
Here’s how it all unfolded, blow-by-blow, if you missed it—or just want to relive the rollercoaster.
First half: trading blows
- Yorkshire were out the blocks fast. Becky Patrick scored after some slick offloading from Mary Stones and Katie Patrick.
- But Bucks weren’t having it. Their captain, Nicky Gross, powered over following a bulldozing run by their player-coach, Rocky Clark (who, by the way, is England’s second-most capped rugby player).
- Steph Tharne then pounced on her own charge-down for Yorkshire, only for Sian Mills to snatch one back for Bucks.
- After Clark saw yellow for a high tackle, Stones made the most of the advantage and edged Yorkshire ahead again.
- Just before half-time, Caz Collie produced a solo stunner for Bucks—sidestepping, fending off two defenders and levelling it at the break.
Second half: grit and guts
- Early after the restart, Taylor-Roberts sold a dummy and dashed over for another try.
- But it wasn’t just about the points. Yorkshire’s defence was immense. They held off wave after wave from Buckinghamshire, especially in the last 10 minutes when things could’ve turned ugly.
Then, that final kick. Taylor-Roberts again. Cool head, clean strike, game over.
A mix of experience and fresh faces
One of the best bits? The variety in this Yorkshire squad. Some players had stood on this stage before. Others had only picked up a rugby ball two years ago. Baxter called it a “wonderful mixture”, and honestly, you could see that energy on the pitch.
He said:
“We’ve got players who have returned from PWR and others who have only picked up a rugby ball for the past two years, so it’s wonderful to have that mixture in there.”
That kind of blend makes a team unpredictable—and exciting to watch. It’s also a sign of how the women’s game is growing. Fast.
Yorkshire’s title run: back-to-back brilliance
Let’s not underplay what Yorkshire have achieved:
- 2024: Beat Surrey in the Division One Final
- 2025: Beat Buckinghamshire 29–19 at Twickenham
That’s consistency. That’s resilience. That’s championship mentality.
And for Baxter, who plays club rugby for Otley, the win meant more than just silverware.
“It’s good because you want a challenge like that and all credit to Buckinghamshire, they are a really good side. I’m really proud of our girls, it was a nice test.”
Key players who made the difference
Here’s a quick run-through of who stood out:
- Alex Taylor-Roberts – match-winning penalty and a try. Calm under pressure.
- Becky Patrick – opened the scoring and looked dangerous throughout.
- Steph Tharne – never gave up, literally chased down her own kick for a score.
- Mary Stones – slick hands, smart decisions, and capitalised when Bucks were a player down.
- Katie Patrick – part of the early break that set the tone.
Why this matters
Rugby’s not just about trophies. It’s about stories. Comebacks. Teams made up of mates, new faces, old heads, and everything in between. And this Yorkshire side? They’ve just written themselves into the women’s rugby history books—twice.
And with performances like this, you’d bet they’re not done yet.
Next year’s final? Don’t be surprised if Yorkshire are right back in it.
