PWR Round 12 Preview: Ilona Maher makes the squad as Bears welcome Gloucester-Hartpury in Final rematch

Bristol Bears welcome Gloucester-Hartpury to Ashton Gate for a crunch West Country clash in Round 12 of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Nearly 8,000 fans are expected in Bristol, with new Bears signing Ilona Maher in line for a potential debut from the bench.

Sparks are also set to fly in the capital as Trailfinders Women host league leaders Harlequins, while Leicester Tigers do battle with Sale Sharks.

Loughborough Lightning round off proceedings later on as they host Saracens in the evening kick-off.

Saturday 4 January - Trailfinders Women v Harlequins - Trailfinders Sports Centre, 3pm

Live on the Trailfinders YouTube channel

League leaders Harlequins make the short trip across London in high spirits after a dominant 42-17 win over Leicester Tigers last time out.

A flurry of first-half tries at Allianz Stadium saw Quins register a ninth successive win as they ended 2024 top of the league standings and they will be hoping to start the New Year by picking up where they left off against Trailfinders Women.

They face a Trailfinders side beaten 41-22 by Exeter Chiefs in their most recent league action just under a month ago, and the hosts will be itching to spoil the party.

Trailfinders name a dangerous back three in Chloe Rollie, Abby Dow, and Grace White while Jade Konkel steers the side as captain from No.8.

Quins continue with the formula that has served them so well in recent weeks, with Kaitlan Leaney and Harriet Millar Mills the sole additions to the pack.

Ellie Kildunne, Beth Wilcock, and Lisa Neumann combine again in the back three.

The best way to start the new year 🎆

Round 12 is looking unmissable 🙏#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/jNcXcEIxCv

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) December 30, 2024

Team News

Trailfinders Women 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Grace White, 13 Jess Cooksey, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Abby Dow, 10 Julia Schell, 9 Caity Mattinson; 1. Alivia Leatherman, 2. Kat Evans, 3. Rori Wood, 4. Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Shya Pinnock, 6. Abi Burton, 7. Annabel Meta, 8. Kate Zackary (c)

Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Liz Crake, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Grace Moore, 20 Rowena Burnfield, 21 Ella Amory, 22 Sam Shiels, 23 Vicky Laflin

Harlequins

15 Ellie Kildunne, 14⁠ Beth Wilcock⁠, 13⁠ ⁠Clàudia Peña, 12⁠ ⁠Lagi Tuima, 11 ⁠Lisa Neumann, 10⁠ ⁠Kayleigh Powell, 9 ⁠Lucy Packer; 1⁠ ⁠Silvia Turani, 2⁠ ⁠Connie Powell, 3⁠ ⁠Lizzie Hanlon, 4⁠ ⁠ Abbie Fleming, 5 ⁠Kaitlan Leaney, 6⁠ Harriet Millar Mills, 7⁠ ⁠Alex Callender, 8⁠ ⁠Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Lauren Brooks, 20 Maja Meuller, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Ella Cromack, 23 Sarah Parry

Match Officials

Referee: Hamish Grant

Assistant Referees: Jamie Parr and James Pidding

ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇꜱ ✈️

The Take Off 2 is less than 48 hours away!

Secure your seat 🎟️ https://t.co/3aFvaVQLIR#TheTakeOff2 🛫 | #FollowTheTrail 💚 pic.twitter.com/OMjREWbyPd

— Trailfinders Women (@TrailfindersW) January 2, 2025

Oval Insights

Trailfinders Women

- Grace White has beaten the joint second-most defenders so far this season (45). She has scored a try in two of her last three appearances.

- Trailfinders have made an average of 7.6 dominant tackles per 80 minutes this season – more than any other team.

- Trailfinders have made the most kick in play metres per 80 minutes so far this season, an average of 455.

Harlequins

- Ellie Kildunne made more metres last weekend than any other player has in a match this season, a total of 262. She also made a round-high five clean breaks, beat ten defenders, and scored two tries.

- Jade Konkel-Roberts and Alex Callender made the joint-most post-contact metres in Round 11: 33 apiece.

- Claudia Pena scored two tries last weekend, assisted another, and won three turnovers - more than any other back in Round 11.

She finished the try that she started 🤩 @elliekildunne was unstoppable for @HarlequinsWomen at #BigGame16 in @ThePWR pic.twitter.com/DVsehFGTZM

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) January 2, 2025

Saturday 4 January - Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks - Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 5:50pm

Revenge is on the menu for Sale Sharks as they bid to start 2025 with a bang away at Leicester Tigers.

Sharks lost the reverse fixture 34-17 last month and they will be hoping to put the challenges of last year behind them when they take on Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Leicester enter the fixture licking their wounds from a 42-17 defeat to league leaders Harlequins at Big Game and they will look to set things right against a Sale side yet to register a win this campaign.

Red Rose Amy Cokayne starts at hooker for Tigers, with Eva Donaldson and Charlotte Fray combining in the second row.

Meg Jones and Francesca McGhie are both named in the backs in an unchanged starting line-up.

Sharks see Jo Brown make a return to the back row, as she teams up with England international Morwenna Talling and Niamh Swailes. Livewire Beatrice Rigoni will hope to dictate proceedings from inside centre.

Team News

Leicester Tigers

15 Claire Gallagher, 14 Emily Henrich, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Evie Wills, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Sophie Benavent, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Julia Omokhuale, 7 Katie Childs, 8 Roisin McBrien

Replacements: 16 Nikki Simpson, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Nadine Vincent, 19 Morgan Richardson, 20 Tiana Gordon, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Tess Feury, 23 Jordan Russell

Sale Sharks

15 Lizzie Duffy, 14 Sophie Hopkins, 13 Rachel Philipps, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Holly Thorpe, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Sofia Stefan, 1 Detysha Harper, 2 Scarlett Fielding, 3 Nick James, 4 Iona Antwis, 5 Molly Morrissey, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Niamh Swailes, 8 Morwenna Talling

Replacements: 16 Molly Wright, 17 Catie Benson, 18 Evie Roach, 19 Katie-Louise Moore, 20 Jasmine Hazel, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Vicky A Irwin, 23 Nikita Prothero

Beast mode activated 👊

Here are your top tacklers from the season so far 🏉#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/u8lP81EmJW

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) January 1, 2025

Match Officials:

Referee: Alex Thomas

Assistant Referees: Charlie Gayther and James Clarke

Oval Insights

Leicester Tigers

- Charlotte Fray has made more dominant tackles this season than any other player (12). Teammate Julia Omokhuale also made nine.

- Tigers have won an average of 8.2 turnovers per 80 minutes this season – the second-most in the PWR.

- Tigers have conceded the second-fewest turnovers this season, an average of 9.3 per 80 minutes and 2.9 fewer than their opposition.

Sale Sharks

- Holly Thorpe has scored more tries than any other Sharks player this season (four). She has also made a squad-high ten clean breaks and beaten 23 defenders (second in the squad).

- The Sharks have made the second-most kicks in play this season, an average of 16.1 per 80 minutes.

- 38% of the Sharks touches this season have been carries – a higher proportion than any other team.

Last time out in BS3 ⏪

Ready for a record crowd at @ashtongatestad on Sunday - who's coming? 🙋‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/JT94Z1kR3b

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) January 2, 2025

Sunday 5 January - Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury - Ashton Gate, 12:45pm

Live TV coverage

UK - TNT Sports

USA - The Rugby Network

New Zealand - Sky New Zealand

Rest of the World - RugbyPassTV

Bristol Bears welcome Gloucester-Hartpury to Ashton Gate on what should be a blockbuster West Country derby.

Last time out saw Bears 14-0 up inside 12 minutes against Saracens at StoneX Stadium, only for the hosts to stage a successful comeback and take home the spoils.

With more than 6,000 tickets sold for the showpiece, Dave Ward's side will be itching to set things right, but they won't find it easy with The Circus in town.

The reigning champions ruthlessly snapped Exeter Chiefs' unbeaten streak at Sandy Park last weekend 41-12 and they will fancy their chances of spoiling the party.

England trio Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern lead the Bears pack in the front row, with captain Abbie Ward behind them.

The league's top try-scorer Millie David starts on the wing, with new signing Ilona Maher on the bench and in line for a potential PWR debut.

The Circus name an unchanged pack from their Round 11 victory over Chiefs, while Mo Hunt and Lleucu George combine in the half backs.

Emma Sing, Mia Venner, and Pip Hendy combine in the back three in a repeat of last season's final.

Team News

Bristol Bears

15 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Courtney Knight, 12 Phoebe Murray, 11 Millie David, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Ffion Lewis; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Abbie Ward (c), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Row Marston-Mulhearn

Replacements: 16 Jess Sprague, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Holly Phillips, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Gabriella Nigrelli, 21 Tilly Ryall, 22 Meg Varley, 23 Ilona Maher

Gloucester-Hartpury

15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha 'Mo' Hunt (cc); 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Zoe Aldcroft (cc), 6 Kate Williams, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews

Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 Kathryn Buggy, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Steph Else, 20 Georgia Brock, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Ellie Green, 23 Rachel Lund

Ready for Sunday’s crowd at Ashton Gate 🏟️🌟 pic.twitter.com/fGtO5CceOY

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) January 2, 2025

Match Officials:

Referee: Joe James

Assistant Referees: Holly Wood and Kevin Williams

Oval Insights

Bristol Bears

- Millie David has scored 11 tries this season – as many as any other player. She has also made the most clean breaks outright (21).

- Rownita Marston-Mulhearn has made the second-most dominant carries (42) and post-contact metres (248) in the PWR.

- Amber Reed has assisted as many tries as any other player this season, a total of eight.

Gloucester-Hartpury

- Last weekend, Emma Sing beat seven defenders, made 133 metres, and assisted two tries.

- Gloucester-Hartpury have averaged the most dominant carries (30.9) and post-contact metres (189) per 80 minutes so far this season.

- Gloucester-Hartpury have the best tackle success rate in the league (82.5%). They have also averaged the second-most dominant tackles per 80 minutes (7.2).

Sing ➡️ Venner ➡️ Try Time @gloshartpury 🪄✨ #PWR pic.twitter.com/GQYygYG14T

— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) January 2, 2025

Sunday 5 January - Loughborough Lightning v Saracens - cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens, 5:30pm

Four tries from Krissy Scurfield saw Loughborough Lightning end their 2024 on a high after dispatching Sharks 50-7 and they will hope 2025 will see more of the same when they host Saracens on Sunday evening.

The visitors remain in the title hunt after an exciting 33-24 win over Bristol Bears at StoneX in their most recent league action and will be looking to make sure that remains the case by close of play.

Lightning welcome co-captain Rachel Malcolm back from injury, with the Scot named amongst the replacements, while Abby Duguid and Sadia Kabeya make their 50th appearances for the club.

Saracens name an unchanged starting XV from their victory over Bristol Bears before Christmas, with Rosie Galligan and ⁠⁠Georgia Evans once again combining in the second row.

Zoe Harrison will pull the strings at 10, while Lotte Sharp and Alysha Corrigan are on the wings.

Team News

Loughborough Lightning

15 Francesca Goldthorp, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Alev Kelter, 11 Krissy Scurfield, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Megan Davey; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Hallie Taufoou, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc)

Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Courtney Holtkamp, 20 Kendall Waudby, 21 Rachel Malcolm (cc), 22 Leia Brebner-Holden, 23 Carmela Morrall 

Saracens

15 ⁠⁠Sarah McKenna, 14⁠ ⁠⁠Alysha Corrigan, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Hardy, 11⁠ ⁠⁠Lotte Sharp (cc), 10⁠ ⁠⁠Zoe Harrison, 9⁠ ⁠⁠Ella Wyrwas; 1⁠ ⁠McKinley Hunt, 2⁠ ⁠⁠Bryony Field, 3⁠ ⁠⁠Kelsey Clifford, 4⁠ ⁠⁠Rosie Galligan, 5⁠ ⁠⁠Georgia Evans, 6⁠ ⁠⁠May Campbell, 7⁠ ⁠⁠Marlie Packer (cc), 8.⁠ ⁠⁠Gabrielle Senft

Replacements: 16 Carmen Tremelling, 17⁠ ⁠⁠Akina Gondwe, 18⁠ ⁠⁠Maya Montiel, 19⁠ ⁠⁠Poppy Cleall, 20⁠ ⁠⁠Louise McMillan, 21⁠ ⁠⁠Leanne Infante, 22⁠ ⁠⁠Amelia MacDougall, 23⁠ ⁠⁠Coreen Grant

Match Officials:

Referee: Harry Walbaum

Assistant Referees: Neil Chivers and Veryan Boscawen

Loughborough Lightning

- Krissy Scurfield scored four tries last weekend. She also made 244 metres, beat nine defenders, and made three clean breaks.

- Alev Kelter beat a round-high 11 defenders last weekend, made four clean breaks, and scored a try.

- Kendall Waudby has made the second-most tackles so far this season, a total of 135. Her tackle success rate is 83.3%.

Saracens

- Four of the top five tacklers in Round 11 were Saracens. Marlie Packer made a round-high 27 tackles at a success rate of over 93%.

- May Campbell has scored the joint-most tries this season (11) and won six more turnovers than any other player (17).

- Saracens have scored an average of 34 points per 80 minutes – the second-most in the league. They’ve scored a league-high average of 9 points from goal kicks – more than any other team.