Ilona Maher scores incredible 65+ metre starting debut try

American import Ilona Maher has broken her try-scoring seal this afternoon with a simply insane 65+ metre starting debut try against Exeter Chiefs in the PWR.

Receiving the ball in acres of space in her own half, Maher eyed up the open field in front of her as she charged past the flailing arms of the outstretched Chiefs fly half, Taylor Perry to create a one-on-one in the Exeter backfield. Lining up the ordinarily secure Emily Tuttosi, Maher steamrolled the opposition hooker into the Devon turf, before racing in unopposed from 30 metres.

Ilona Maher doing Ilona Maher things! 🔥

What a way to get you first ever @ThePWR try! @ilona_maher shows off her power down the wing with a fantastic solo effort 👏#EXEvBRI | @ThePWR | @BristolBearsW pic.twitter.com/oD3b8cJgBl

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 12, 2025

The score took Bristol to a 19-38 lead, putting immense pressure on the home side who sat just one place above them in the PWR table. As the match progressed, Exeter looked to bring the result back in their favour with a couple of impressive tries of their own, but the result remained the same – a bonus point victory to Bristol Bears.

Final Score: Exeter Chiefs 31-41 Bristol Bears

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Recently Maher spoke about the player she was most excited to be playing with at Bristol, naming her formal rival Jasmine Joyce-Butchers as one of the ‘best tacklers’ in the world.

“She is one of the best, not only sevens but 15s player,” Maher said. “Someone who can truly transition between games. She had a great tackle on me in the Olympics and she is somebody, we always have had important games against her.

“She is somebody, every time she tackles she has no fear, she is one of the best tacklers in the world. So to get to play with her and have her hype me up and talk to me [was great]. Throughout the game she was like ‘I’m going to get you the ball now’, it didn’t work out just because of how the defence was but to have a rival become your teammate it shows the type of sport we play.

“Everybody in the PWR, the players who have messaged me are so excited for me to be here because they see the value and they want their league to succeed and they are willing to help in any way.”