Gloucester-Hartpury on verge of maiden Premier 15s title

Gloucester-Hartpury 21 Bristol Bears 12

After six long years holding their own in a league that is growing more competitive by the season, Gloucester-Hartpury have a maiden domestic title within their sights.

This was closer and scrappier than they would have liked. But Sean Lynn’s side weathered a second-half fightback from their West Country rivals to progress to the Premier 15s final — which will be in their own backyard — in a fortnight’s time.

With the female game continuing to grow in popularity and profile, it can be tempting to hype almost every contest as a great advert for women’s rugby — but this one genuinely was. The hosts were two tries to the good by the break but Bristol came out firing in a frantic second half and had Elinor Snowsill’s conversion not tickled the upright when the Bears had all the momentum after two Lark Davies tries, they might have just edged it. Instead, their wait for a first Premier 15s final goes on after Rachel Lund’s 67th minute try sucked the wind out of their sails.

When the whistle blew, Sarah Beckett, Gloucester’s thunderous No.8 who had opened the scoring early on, screwed her fists up in relief, turned to the crowd, and roared in delight. “That’s where you saw the emotion,” said Sean Lynn, the Gloucester-Hartpury head coach, who conceded his side had won ugly. “We’ve been building towards this for two years.”

In previous seasons the Cherry and Whites have lacked snap and bite. For so many years they struggled to close out games, but this season, having finished top of the league, they have discovered a winning formula. They were never going to let this one slip.

Lynn rested his big guns last week in the final regular round of the season and it was telling from the off. Their forward pack was fierce, their ball carrying was abrasive and their ruck speed was frighteningly quick in a one-sided first half which ended when Kelsey Jones crashed over.

Bristol came out after the break with a fresh energy and zapped Gloucester’s spark. Lark Davies twice emerged under a pile of bodies over the whitewash but after that they had nothing more in the tank.

Nevertheless, this is a team that has showcased its title-winning potential under head coach Dave Ward who, gracious as he was in defeat, was at pains to point out how challenging it had been to manage the increasing workloads among his international players. Many of them will be in camp this summer to prepare for WXV, the new global competition for the women’s game launching this autumn, less than a year since last year’s World Cup in New Zealand.

“It’s almost turning into a 12-month season,” said Ward. “It’s so difficult for the players because everyone wants their pound of flesh. We obviously want to see our club players as much as we can, but what I’d like to do is work with the RFU and the WRU and work out a training plan that works for everyone, so the girls can have some proper time off. It is difficult, but every team is in the same boat.”