By Ben Baker
Gloucester-Hartpury have continued their perfect season in the PWR, as they handed Trailfinders Women a 59-12 hammering at Kingsholm yesterday. A dominant performance from the Cherry and Whites, keeps the reigning league champions 14-points clear atop the Premiership Women’s Rugby table.
It was a perfect start for the Circus, after Trailfinders conceded four consecutive penalties, Gloucester-Hartpury opted for touch, and after a successful line out and a driving maul saw Neve Jones score the first try of the match.
Gloucester-Hartpury continued their dominant start, scoring their second try of the game, Tatyana Heard got on the end of a loose ball with a grubber that found Hannah Jones who hacked the ball over the Trailfinders try-line and Emma Sing was able to finish it off.
Only minutes later, Gloucester-Hartpury were able to score their third try of the game. The home side had a five metre scrum after Trailfinders carried the ball over their own try-line. A massive push from Gloucester-Hartpury’s scrum saw them push the ball over Trailfinders’ try-line and Sarah Beckett scored the try.
It was three tries in quick succession for the Circus as Maud Muir offloaded to Zoe Aldcroft who stormed into the ‘22 who found Muir on her shoulder who received the ball and secured Gloucester-Hartpury a first place finish in the league with the bonus point try.
Gloucester-Hartpury scored their final try of the first half after Lindelwa Gwala overthrew her lineout on Trailfinders’ five metre line and was caught by Georgia Brock who put the Circus on Trailfinders’ try line, Bethan Lewis was able to carry the ball over and cap off a strong first half from her side.
Half time: Gloucester- Hartpury 33-0 Trailfinders
It took eight minutes for the league leaders to score their first try of the second half, after pressing Trailfinders with many phases on the London based side’s try-line, Gloucester-Hartpury found Mia Venner out on the wing who was able to carry the ball over the line.
In the second half the league leaders utilised their physical advantage and after having another run of phases on the Trailfinders try line, substitute tighthead prop Cerys Hale was able to dive over the line to increase Gloucester-Hartpury’s lead.
Trailfinders restart fell straight into Alex Matthews’ arms who passed it to Venner who made a fantastic break, before finding Steph Else who gave it straight back to Venner to score her second of the game.
Later in the game, Mackenzie Carson received a yellow card for not releasing the ball. Trailfinders made the most out of the extra player, after putting lots of pressure on Gloucester-Hartpury’s try-line and Amanda McQuade was able to get Trailfinders on the scoreboard.
Trailfinders once again made use of the extra player after an offload from McQuade found winger Rosie Inman in space and she finished it wonderfully in the corner.
However, the home side had the final say after Carson rejoined as after lots of play within five metres of the Trailfinders try-line, Bethan Lewis was able to finally find a gap and score the last try of the game.
Full time: Gloucester-Hartpury 59-12 Trailfinders Women
GLOUCESTER HARTPURY: 59
TRIES: 9 (Jones 4’, Sing 10’, Beckett 14’, Muir 18, Lewis 30’,74’, Venner 48’ 56’, Hale 55’)
CONVERSIONS: 7 (Sing 4’,14’,18’,30’, George 55’,56’,74’)
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Carson 59’)
15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Rachel Lund, 10 Millie Hyett, 9 Bianca Blackburn, 1 El Perry, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Kate Williams, 5 Zoe Aldcroft (c), 6 Georgia Brock, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Sarah Beckett
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Amy Dale, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Cerys Hale, 19 Steph Else, 20 Alex Matthew, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Lizzie Goulden
TRAILFINDERS WOMEN: 12
TRIES: 2 (McQuade 61’, Inman 67’)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Shiels 61’)
15 Vicky Laflin, 14 Sam Shiels, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Jess Cooksey, 11 Rosie Inman, 10 Ella Amory, 9 Sophie Moulten, 1Liz Crake, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 3 Andrea Stock, 4 Shya Pinnock, 5 Shannon Ikahihifo (c), 6 Elisa Riffonneau, 7 Megan Barwick, 8 Rowena Burnfield
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Amanda McQuade, 17 Kie Tamai, 18 Tilly Poland, 19 Kira Leat, 20 Lauren Knowler, 21 Charlotte Cheshire, 22 Emma Swords