Bristol Ladies vs Worcester Valkyries

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Bristol Ladies Report

Bristol Ladies returned to winning ways this afternoon, as they earned another bonus point win over fourth place Worcester Valkyries.

Bristol started well, with two tries in the first 15 minutes. Becki Belcher was on the end of some great phase play to go over in the corner just two minutes in. 10 minutes later, Lottie Holland (sponsored by Gooch and Housego) made a storming run through several defenders, passing out to Sarah Bern (sponsored by Fifth Consultancy) who spotted a gap and flew through to score.

Bristol led 12 – 0, and play continued with both sides gaining ground only to make unforced errors, as knock ons  and penalties at the scrum plagued both sides.

Worcester Number 8 Shona Powell Hughes found the whitewash after 30 minutes for Worcester after a spell of pressure on the Bristol line, however Elinor Snowsill (sponsored by 17 Management) slotted a penalty for the home side on 35 minutes, taking the half time score to 15 – 5.

The second half saw Bristol take things up a level, and this time Poppy Cleall (sponsored by The School of Dance) got the ball over the line after some great phases of play. Snowsill slotted the conversion successfully. A Worcester error gifted Bristol their next score, as Meg Jones scored just right of the posts on her return from international duty. Two minutes later, Cat McNaney finished a break from Cleall to go over to score the bonus point try for Bristol.

Worcester stepped up the pressure for the final 10 minutes. A knock on gave Worcester a scrum on the Bristol 22, which they turned into a try of their own, after Sarah Graham is sent to the bin for an infringement at the breakdown.

The final whistle blew and the game ended 34 – 10, with Bristol securing the bonus point win and retaining their spot at the top of the table.

Forward of the game: Poppy Cleall (sponsored by The School of Dance)

Back of the game: Elinor Snowsill (sponsored by 17 Management)

Scores Schedule:

Minutes	Team	Type	Player	Score
2	BRI	TRY	Belcher	5 – 0
11	BRI	TRY	Bern	10 – 0
11	BRI	CONV	Snowsill	12 – 0
30	WORC	TRY	Powell -Hughes	12 – 5
32	BRI	PEN	Snowsill	15 – 5
48	BRI	TRY	Cleall	20 – 5
48	BRI	CONV	Snowsill	22 – 5
60	BRI	TRY	Jones	27 – 5
60	BRI	CONV	Snowsill	29 – 5
62	BRI	TRY	McNaney	34 – 5
77	WORC	TRY		34 – 10

 

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Worcester Valkyries Report

By Tom Branston

Bristol Ladies Rugby saw off Worcester Valkyries 34-10 to claim a bonus-point win in the Women’s Premiership at Cleve Rugby Club on Sunday. 

Becki Blecher and Sarah Bern gave Bristol a comfortable lead before Shona Powell-Hughes hit back for Worcester. 

El Snowsill added a penalty to give Bristol a ten-point lead going into the break but second-half tries from Poppy Cleall, Meg Jones and Cat McNaney sealed victory for the league leaders before Rachel Lund added a late consolation score for Valkyries. 

Bristol scored a try within two minutes with a neat move as the ball was quickly recycled from a scrum and Belcher received it to score in the corner.

The hosts were on the front foot with quick attacking play and pressure told as they added a second try through Bern, with the hard-hitting prop smashing through the defensive line to score and Snowsill added the extras.

 

Worcester began to grow in confidence and dominated territory and possession in the Bristol 22.  

The hosts’ defence held out well until Powell-Hughes received the ball from the ruck and found a gap to give Worcester a way back into the game. Ceri Large narrowly missed the conversion. 

From the restart Bristol dominated possession and were awarded a penalty with the visitors penalised for not rolling away. 

Snowsill added three points to the score as the hosts went in at half-time with a 15-5 lead.

Bristol started the second-half as they did in the first with high intensity and on the front foot. 

A quickly-recycled ball fell to Lottie Holland and the centre looked set to score but Lydia Thompson made a last-ditch challenge to deny her. 

However, moments later Bristol extended their lead through Cleall as the number eight found a way through three defenders to score and Snowsill added the conversion. 

Rochelle Clark and Tracy Balmer looked to charge forward but mistakes were the Valkyries’ downfall with knock-ons and penalties conceded leading to Bristol adding their fourth try of the game.

Jones capitalised on a quick penalty and ran in from close range with Snowsill adding another conversion.

A lapse in concentration then saw Worcester concede a fifth just moments later when McNaney received the ball out wide from the restart and she ran in to score. 

With a convincing scoreline, Bristol took their foot off the gas in the final quarter as Worcester dominated possession.  

Lisa Campbell and Dyddgu Hywel caused problems for the defensive line showing their strength crashing through several challenges and late on Bristol’s Sarah Graham received a yellow card for consistent infringements at the breakdown.

And Valkyries capitalised after a prolonged period in the Bristol 22 as Lund shoved her way through a challenge to score a consolation try for Donna Kennedy’s side. 

Valkyries face play-off rivals Saracens Women in the league at Sixways on Sunday 11 December (kick-off 2pm).

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