USA sevens star Ilona Maher has drawn comparisons to Jonah Lomu after scoring her first Premiership Women’s Rugby try for Bristol Bears in the victory over Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.
After making her debut off the bench against Gloucester-Hartpury last week, Maher earned her first start in the 41-31 victory over Exeter.
Ilona Maher stars in first start
The 28-year-old, who is the most followed rugby account on Instagram, produced a wonderful performance at Sandy Park as she racked up over 100 metres more than any other player while scoring and assisting a try.
It was in the second half when Maher made her most telling contribution as she received the ball near the Bears‘ 10-metre line.
The USA speedster charged over the halfway line before escaping the first tackle attempt and then steamrolled over Exeter fly-half Taylor Perry in a barnstorming run.
That carry left her route to the try line wide open as Maher charged over to score her side’s sixth and final try of the victory.
Her efforts have been likened to the late great Lomu who was renowned for his epic runs which left players in his wake.
Maher’s stats from the match back up the comparison as she gained 170 running metres, 110 more than the next best by her teammate Phoebe Murray. She also beat 12 defenders, double the tally of Exeter fly-half Perry and made four clean breaks – two more than any other player.
Reaction to first start
Speaking after the match, Maher is still focused on improving her XVs game.
“I feel good. I think I’ve been always been one who harps on the little things, instead of the bigger picture,” she told TNT Sports.
“So it was just a good time to see the little things I have to work on. There are so many things that I am good at that I may be left and I can really do in the next game – this is going about getting confident in it.”
Commenting on her try, she added: “I don’t if there was any relief, but it was kind of a little bit like sevens on that.
“I mean, my teammates did hard work to put me through and I managed to get through a couple defenders, which I was like, ‘Oh, this is sevens’.
“So I think it’s going to be now trying to figure out when I have three people in front of me, how do I get through them and whatnot.
“I don’t go around people, that’s never been my thing, ever. I don’t go around them, I always go through them.
“I guess I could have gone around but it’s really not natural for me.”
