Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury will face Saracens in the Premiership Women’s Rugby final after they defeated Bristol Bears 36-20 at Queensholm.
“I’m buzzing; it goes to show how special the PWR league is, that game today that game was an outstanding advert for women’s rugby” said Lynn
Gloucester-Hartpury, having finished at the top of the league standings once more, will now aim to achieve a historic third consecutive championship in the final at the StoneX Stadium on March 16 against Saracens women.
“You had it all – ball in play, the physicality, the territorial, the tactical game, it was outstanding and I’m hoping that we keep people coming to watch these games.
“The crowd was just electric out there, the chant from the shed when the girls finished the warm-up and they were running along the shed chanting “Gloucester” was just inspiring and these girls deserved it”
The game, held at the newly renamed Kingsholm Stadium, mirrored last season’s championship clash, and similar to last June, the Bears quickly took control of possession and territory, keeping the home team confined to their half for the first quarter of the match.
Lark Atkin-Davies was rewarded for her efforts when she broke free from a maul in the corner to score the first points, and the England hooker increased their lead nine minutes later in a similar manner from the opposite corner.
Gloucester-Hartpury, on the other hand, demonstrated their ability to stay composed and their sharp execution, managing to score on each of their initial three trips to the Bears’ 22, with El Perry and Sarah Beckett both breaking through.
Just before half-time, No.8 Evie Gallagher was sent into the box and Bristol was reduced to 14 men, with Sing breaking through to make it 19-10. Bristol were the last team to beat Gloucester-Hartpury in the league in November and they remain in the game. Simi Pam broke through the home defence and Maher, who had his fourth shot on target in seven games, played a quick pass from the outside.
But Gloucester-Hartpury gradually turned things around and showed why they have been the league’s dominant force for the past three seasons. Zoe Aldcroft extended the lead by landing under the posts, while winger Mille David’s fine shot from a corner kept Bristol within sight, but after a two-man tackle the bridge became too big to cross. Wales captain Hannah Jones broke through the Bristol defence for the fifth goal, and Sing converted the penalty to send the Bristol side into the final again with a 16-point lead.
Lynn, who has revolutionized Gloucester-Hartpury since assuming control in 2019, is expected to depart from the team after the final to become the head coach for the Wales women’s team, beginning at the Six Nations.
