PWR Round 12 Review: Gloucester triumph in front of record crowd, Quins win thriller and Tigers make history

Gloucester-Hartpury earned a statement win at Ashton Gate, running in six tries to beat Bristol Bears 40-17 on Ilona Maher's debut for the hosts.

A crowd of 9,240 poured in to take in the contest, a PWR record for a standalone game, in a rematch of last season's final which saw the team crowned champions that day assert their authority once more.

In Saturday's games, table-toppers Harlequins edged out Trailfinders Women in the opening game of Round 12 while Leicester Tigers got the better of Sale Sharks as Meg Jones grabbed a hat-trick.

Saturday 4 January

Trailfinders Women 39-46 Harlequins - Trailfinders Sports Ground

A double from Kayleigh Powell finally saw off Trailfinders Women in a humdinger between the two London sides.

Quins looked to be on course for a comfortable win when they led 31-10 late in the first half, but they needed a late resurgence in the final 10 minutes to come away with the points.

Silvia Turani and Claudia Pena had put the visitors into a 14-0 lead, only for Kat Evans to get Trailfinders back in touch with two tries in seven minutes.

From there, Quins threatened to run away with it, Jade Konkel, Ellie Kildunne and Connie Powell all getting over.

Kate Zackary pulled one back before the break, with Trailfinders down 31-17, and they got back to within a score when Harriet Millar Mills conceded a penalty try six minutes into the second half.

Kayleigh Powell got Quins back on the front foot with a try in the corner but from there Trailfinders seized control.

Abi Burton got their fifth try, followed by a Vicky Laflin score to make it 36-34 to Quins with quarter of an hour remaining.

Zackary's second three minutes later gave Trailfinders the lead for the first time but Quins hit back with a rolling maul score for Carys Phillips before a couple of crucial late turnovers, either side of Kayleigh Powell's second, allowed Quins to come away with five points.

Trailfinders Women

Tries: Evans 2, Zackary 2, Penalty, Burton, Laflin

Harlequins

Tries: Turani, Pena, Konkel, Kildunne, C Powell, K Powell 2, Phillips

Leicester Tigers 38-17 Sale Sharks - Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Leicester Tigers picked up their second win of the season as Meg Jones scored a first-half hat-trick to see off Sale Sharks.

Jones had already enjoyed a stellar outing in the first meeting between the sides, and she was even more influential in this one as Tigers picked up maximum points.

Jones opened the scoring for the home side before Emily Henrich went over for the first of her two tries.

Two further tries in the space of four minutes saw Jones bring up her hat-trick in just 21 minutes as Tigers raced into a 24-0 lead.

Charlotte Fray then added a fifth try before the break, with Leicester 31 points to the good.

Sharks were much better after the break, with Sophie Hopkins crossing twice and Iona Antwis getting another right at the death.

But Henrich's second just before the hour allowed Leicester to control proceedings during an impressive display.

Leicester Tigers

Tries: M Jones 3, Henrich 2, Fray

Sale Sharks

Tries: Hopkins 2, Antwis

Sunday 5 January

Bristol Bears 17-40 Gloucester-Hartpury - Ashton Gate

The eagerly-awaited Westcountry derby went the way of Gloucester-Hartpury on a record-breaking day at Ashton Gate.

In front of the aforementioned bumper crowd of more than 9,000, the visitors drew first blood when Emma Sing stepped inside to score and converted her own try.

Bears hit back through Millie David, who this week spoke about relishing the competition provided by the incoming Maher, with the wing continuing her prolific season by crossing in the corner.

Today’s official attendance is an incredible 9️⃣,2️⃣4️⃣0️⃣

A new club and @ThePWR record for a standalone game! 😍

MEGA!

🐻 5-7 🎪 (29 mins)#BRIvGLO | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/QE7dHmgqIK

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) January 5, 2025

The hosts reached the interval 10-7 in front as Alisha Joyce-Butchers threw a superb dummy and went over on the right but the champions hit back in ruthless style after the break.

A trademark snipe from Mo Hunt was added to by Rachel Lund and Maud Muir as The Circus secured their try bonus point, with Sing converting each of the scores to take their advantage to 28-10.

Maher's introduction on the hour mark gave the home crowd a lift and Bears had hope when Sarah Bern charged over for a score converted by Holly Aitchison with 13 minutes still to play.

But late scores from Mia Venner and Georgia Brock put the icing on the cake for the away side, who move to within two points of leaders Harlequins and 12 clear of the Bears.

Bristol Bears

Tries: David, A Joyce-Butchers, Bern

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries: Sing, Hunt, Lund, Muir, Venner, Brock

Loughborough Lightning 22-17 Saracens - cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens

Krissy Scurfield scored twice as Loughborough Lightning claimed an impressive victory over Saracens which saw them climb to sixth in the table.

LIGHTNING HAVE DONE IT!!!!!

⚡ 22-17 💫 pic.twitter.com/T01onxULpP

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) January 5, 2025

In-form wing Scurfield got the ball rolling with a terrific solo score after just six minutes, running in from 40 metres, but the advantage was short-lived as Zoe Harrison crossed for Sarries to level it up at 5-5.

Sadia Kabeya marked her 50th Lightning appearance with a try, the hosts' rolling maul proving productive, with Emily Scarratt adding the extras.

The visitors were again quick to respond, Sydney Gregson going over out wide for an unconverted score, but Lightning had the final say of the first half as Alev Kelter set Scurfield free and she dotted down to give the hosts a 17-10 lead at the break.

Scurfield then played an integral role in Lightning's bonus point score, making good ground before Scarratt applied the finishing touch to stretch the advantage.

Sarries did not go down without a fight and Maya Montiel crossed for the final score of the game in the dying minutes, earning her side a losing bonus point to take back to the capital.

Loughborough Lightning

Tries: Scurfield (2), Kabeya, Scarratt

Saracens

Tries: Harrison, Gregson, Gondwe