Bears swept aside as Gloucester power on

By BEN JAYCOCK

Gloucester-Hartpury…..21pts

Tries: Beckett 4, Jones 30, Lund 67

Conversions: Sing 5, 31, 68

Bristol Bears ………………..12pts

Tries: Davies 46, 62

Conversions: Snowsill 47

Premier 15s pacesetters Gloucester-Hartpury reached their first ever final by seeing off Bristol Bears at Kingsholm.

The table toppers, who lost on just two occasions this season, weren’t at their best but return to Kingsholm on June 24 courtesy of tries by Sarah Beckett, Kelsey Jones and Rachel Lund.

Player of the match Alex Matthews said: “This win means so much to the group. We came here to win the tournament and we’re now a step closer, so we’ve now got a big two weeks ahead.

“We know Bristol keep the ball really well. We looked at them throughout the week and know every move; who they were going to hit, where they were going next and that just gave us vital confidence. Yes they can keep the ball for five plus phases but we knew we could get the win by staying patient and composed.”

Gloucester enjoyed a dream start as following a charge down from Keira Bevan’s box kick, Beckett produced an excellent one two with Emma Sing and the No.8 went over for her ninth try of the season.

Despite opening the scoring, the home side were overpowered in the scrum early on but Bristol, who went twice to the corner, endured white line fever as their usually potent driving maul went missing.

Bristol continued to bring the heat at scrum time but sloppy hands from both backlines meant the game failed to flow in the first half.

Gloucester had chances to add to their lead as they dominated possession and territory but six handlingng errors kept their lead at seven points.

Eventually on the half hour mark they added a second try as hooker Jones went over off a driving maul and deadeye fullback Sing produced another touchline conversion.

All smiles: Rachel Lund celebrates scoring Gloucester’s third try

Gloucester’s physicality was paying dividend with the likes of Maud Muir, Jones and Matthews putting in shuddering hits, with the latter making 28 tackles in total.

Straight off the restart after half-time, Bristol kept the ball for five minutes, and 35 phases, to propel themselves up the pitch. They were rewarded with a penalty and after the ball was sent to the corner, England star and Premier 15s top try scorer Lark Davies went over for her 22nd touchdown of the season as she was the beneficiary once more of Bristol’s devastating driving maul.

Wales fly-half Elinor Snowsill kept up the theme of impressive conversions as she added the extras from out wide.

Gloucester-Hartpury responded by making an emphatic break down the left and were metres from the line but the pass to Lund was deemed forward.

Moments later Amber Reed picked out Phoebe Murray off a scrum with a pinpoint kick in behind, and off the move the Bears entered the opposing 22.

Following another penalty, Davies got her second try for Bristol from another driving maul. But having first been denied a try by the TMO for a knock on, Gloucester regained their advantage as Beckett’s powerful carry bounced Bristol 10 Snowsill and off quick ball Tatyana Heard assisted Lund in scoring their third try.

Natasha Hunt was close to rounding off the scoring as she made a scintillating break down the middle but Lucy Burgess’ last ditch tackle prevented a further try.