Premiership Women's Rugby: Bristol Bears lay down early marker with thumping win over Sale Sharks

Bristol Bears got the 2023/24 Premiership Women’s Rugby season started in style with a thumping 48-5 victory over Sale Sharks.

The back-to-back semi-finalists are hoping to establish themselves as title contenders this campaign and laid down an early marker at Ashton Gate.

It was a performance packed with individual and team brilliance and which also featured a try-scoring return for Abbie Ward just four months after giving birth.

The writing was on the wall early for Sale when Hollie Bawden was sent to the sin bin for a cynical pull back, and the hosts made their player advantage count.

From the resultant penalty, the line-out drive was devastating and Lark Atkin-Davies touched down for the first try of the PWR competition in the fourth minute.

Reneeqa Bonner got on the score sheet just five minutes later after she was found in acres of space by a cross-field kick from new signing Holly Aitchison as the hosts opened up a 12-0 advantage.

Ward then marked her comeback with a try in the 14th minute after pouncing on a loose ball, before Lucy Burgess secured the bonus point when she weaved her way past three defenders to make it 26-0.

Sale responded before the break with a try from new recruit Beatrice Rigoni but Phoebe Murray re-established Bristol’s lead nine minutes into the second-half when she finished off a brilliant wide move.

The start of the second period was more competitive, but Sale couldn’t undo the damage done during a disastrous opening 15 minutes, and Bristol extended their advantage with three quick-fire tries.

Atkin-Daies got her second of the game at the end of another line-out drive before Jess Sprague scored in almost identical fashion to put the hosts 43-5 clear with 15 minutes left on the clock.

And after the forward power, the backs showed what they are capable of as some slick passing and offloading in the tackle once again unlocked the leaky Sale defence to put Ella Lovibond in for the eighth and final try.

Saracens Women were equally dominant as they dismantled Loughborough Lightning at StoneX Stadium.

Three tries gave the Sarries a 17-7 lead at the break before the hosts turned the screw with 31 unanswered second-half points to complete a 48-7 victory.

Sophie de Goede opened the scoring and bagged a brace for Saracens, while there were also tries for Leanne Infante, Poppy Cleall, Jess Breach and Marlie Packer.

In the final match of the day, Harlequins dug deep for a hard-fought 22-17 win over Trailfinders Women.

The league newcomers were reduced to 14 players in the first half when Shannon Ikahihifo was sent off for a high tackle but remarkably recovered from 12-3 down to lead 17-12 before Abbie Fleming scored on her debut to put Quins back in front.

Lagi Tuima then sealed the victory with a 70th-minute penalty.

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