Gloucester-Hartpury secure top spot in Premiership Women's Rugby table, Saracens beat Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park
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Published 19/05/2024 at 18:30 GMT+1
Gloucester-Hartpury will finish first in the Premiership Women's Rugby table after beating Trailfinders 59-12 at Kingsholm. The Circus still have a chance to secure a historic perfect season, while Saracens made history of their own with their first league win at Sandy Park. The win means the Women in Black take a huge step towards a home semi-final. Elsewhere, Leicester Tigers fell to defeat.
'Brilliant team try' lights up Gloucester-Hartpury victory over Lightning
Video credit: TNT Sports
Gloucester-Hartpury secured first place in the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby table with two games to spare after beating Trailfinders 59-12 at Kingsholm.
The Circus are now within touching distance of a historic unbeaten season, but they will face their toughest test yet when they take on second-place side Saracens at the StoneX Stadium next weekend.
The hosts were 7-0 up inside five minutes when Neve Jones touched down from the back of a well-executed driving maul.
Then Tatyana Heard produced a phenomenal kick to set up Emma Sing for their second before Sarah Beckett crossed from a dominant Circus scrum to make it 19-0.
Maud Muir got on Zoe Aldcroft's shoulder before crossing the whitewash to score Gloucester-Hartpury's fourth try before Bethan Lewis powered over from close range to put the finishing touches on a fantastic first-half performance.
It was 38-0 within nine minutes of the restart when Gloucester-Hartpury winger Mia Venner dotted down in the corner.
Cerys Hale twisted the knife, going over from two meters out before Venner scored her second in the 50th minute.
She linked up with Red Roses star Alex Matthews down the right wing before calmly finishing in the corner.
Trailfinders showed immense spirit to turn the tide and get on the scoresheet with Amanda McQuade crossing after a brilliant break from Rosie Inman.
Inman and McQuade linked up again to score a sensational try, with the winger going over after both players produced some fabulous offloads to crack the Gloucester-Hartpury defence.
However, the Circus had the final say, with Lewis scoring her second try of the match to wrap up a convincing 59-12 win.
Saracens record historic win at chiefs
Saracens secured their first away win against Exeter Chiefs with a 57-7 triumph at Sandy Park.
The Women in Black and Chiefs have historically been two of the strongest teams in women's rugby, but Sarries were much the better side on the day as they took a huge step towards a home semi-final.
Sydney Gregson gave the visitors the lead after just 92 seconds before Donna Rose, Coreen Grant and Sarah McKenna scored to make it 26-0 inside 25 minutes.
Gregson crossed for her second in the 32nd minute before Ella Wyrwas raced over in the corner to make it 38-0 at half-time.
Wyrwas scored for the second time after the break, but Katie Buchanan got Chiefs on the board with a try before McKenna went over to take Sarries up to 50.
Bryony Field crashed over for her first of the match to wrap up a historic win for the visitors.
Jackson scores on debut as bears beat tigers
Bobbie Jackson scored on her debut as Bristol Bears beat Leicester Tigers 62-24 at Ashton Gate.
Keira Bevan got Bears off to a fine start, but Tigers hit back through hooker Amy Cokayne before Millie David made it 12-5 to the hosts with a superb line to dart in from 30 metres out.
Simi Pam and Charlotte Fray traded tries before Bevan bagged her second to secure a bonus point for Bears.
Rownita Marston-Mulhearn made it 33-12 at the break, but Natasha Jones struck back after half-time to reduce the deficit to 16 points.
However, Ella Lovibond crossed twice before Hannah Botterman scored a try after some great support play.
Cokayne's second made it 52-24, but Bears had the final say with Alisha Joyce-Butchers and debutant Jackson going over to end a great game.
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