Worcester Valkyries vs Bristol Ladies

By Tom Branston

Worcester Valkyries endured a difficult evening as Bristol Ladies Rugby claimed a 62-10 bonus-point victory with a talented display at Sixways on Saturday.

Bristol proved too hot to handle as they ran in nine tries courtesy of braces for Marlie Packer and Lottie Holland along with scores for Izzy Noel-Smith, Clara Nielson, Jasmine Joyce, Chantelle Miell and Poppy Leitch.

Megan Goddard did cross for a second-half consolation while also kicking five points from the tee but the Valkyries’ occasion in front of a big crowd ended in defeat at Sixways.

Noel-Smith got Bristol off to a flying start as she finished off a neat move before Packer touched down from a driving maul with Amber Reed converting to give the visitors an early 12-0 lead.

Tilly Vaughan-Fowler soon added a penalty and when Ceri Large and Helena Bunce were sin-binned, Bristol took full advantage with Packer going over for her second as she was on the end of another piercing attack.

Reed converted before Goddard slotted a penalty for Valkyries but things went from bad to worse for the hosts as full-back Rachel Lund went off injured.

Holland then got Bristol’s fourth and bonus-point try as she went over in the corner and Reed added another two from the tee as the visitors went in 29-3 ahead at the interval.

Bristol picked up where they left off in the first-half as Holland bagged her second off the back of a driving maul after the break.

Nielson then scored from the result of a quick-tap penalty and Reed converted as Bristol built an unassailable 41-3 lead.

And Joyce soon went over in the corner before Miell added an eighth try with the impressive Reed converting both.

Bristol’s last score came courtesy of Leitch who spotted a gap to touch down and Reed again chipped over the extras to make it 62-3 after 60 minutes.

But Valkyries didn’t lie down and shut Bristol out in the final 20 minutes, and even had a try to show for their efforts when Goddard crossed the whitewash following a spell of pressure and she converted to give the home crowd something to cheer.

The Valkyries will be next in action at Saracens on Sunday 9 October (kick-off 5pm).

Timeline:

04m | Noel-Smith try 0-5

10m | Packer try 0-10

10m | Reed con 0-12

15m | Vaughan-Fowler pen 0-15

20m | Packer try 0-20

21m | Reed con 0-22

25m | Goddard pen 3-22

38m | Holland try 3-27

39m | Reed con 3-29

44m | Holland try 3-34

48m | Nielson try 3-39

48m | Reed con 3-41

54m | Joyce try 3-46

54m | Reed con 3-48

57m | Miell try 3-53

59m | Reed con 3-55

60m | Leitch try 3-60

60m | Reed con 3-62

70m | Goddard try 8-62

71m | Goddard con 10-62