Gloucester-Hartpury beat Bristol Bears for PWR Final place

Gloucester-Hartpury will have the chance to make it a hat-trick of Premiership Women’s Rugby titles as they booked their spot in the final against Saracens with a 36-20 win over Bristol Bears.

The Circus trailed 10-0 early on as the visitors dominated the opening stages, and the game was tight until quarter of an hour to go when Hannah Jones’ scored the try that finally ended Bristol hopes.

Bears started brilliantly when Atkin-Davies got over for her 11th try of the season from a rolling maul after 15 minutes; it was reward for almost total domination of possession and territory.

And on 24 minutes, they were in again, with the same formula, a rolling maul on the left this time as Atkin-Davies got over for her second of the afternoon.

Don't stop her now 👊@LarkDavies powers through to score the first try for @BristolBearsW at Queensholm this afternoon 💪#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/iCAFTEqzMi

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 2, 2025

Gloucester-Hartpury had barely got into Bears territory but took advantage of their first real chance. It came from a brilliant charge by Alex Matthews off the back of a scrum, with El Perry eventually powering over from close range. Emma Sing missed a kickable conversion and Bristol led 10-5 approaching the half-hour.

It was the spark that they needed a Queensholm, and after Lleucu George was stopped just short of the line, the ball was recycled for Sarah Beckett to dive over unchallenged. From out wide, Sing adjusted her radar and put the home side in front 12-10.

The momentum had clearly swung, and life got even harder for Bears just before half-time when Evie Gallagher was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Pip Hendy, giving the Circus a final chance before the break.

They did not need a second invitation, a good rolling maul set up the backs for Sing to go over after a good wide pass from George. She converted her own try and the defending champions led 19-10 at the break.

Gloucester-Hartpury responds at Queensholm 👑

Ellena Perry scores the first try for @gloshartpury in front of a home crowd 🏟️#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/IIpbAywL97

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 2, 2025

Bears needed to strike first in the second half and they did just that, Ilona Maher crashed over in the left corner after they had worked their way into Gloucester territory despite being down a player.

Under pressure, the champions turned to the England captain Zoe Aldcroft for inspiration and she powered over from close range, with Sing’s conversion allowing them to go 26-15 ahead.

Still, Bristol kept coming, Millie David somehow finishing on the right as she touched down despite the attentions of two tacklers, making it a one-score game once again.

It was then that Jones struck, racing over from 30 metres out for the crucial score, Sing’s conversion leaving Bears with a mountain to climb, a task that became even more difficult when she added another penalty that effectively sealed the win.

They will now head to the StoneX Stadium for the final against Saracens as they look to make it three in a row in PWR.

Catch her if you can 👟

Hannah Jones flies over the line to score another try for @gloshartpury 🎪#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/O0glBeoJtr

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 2, 2025