PWR Round 14 Review: Gloucester-Hartpury and Exeter Chiefs edge thrillers as Bears and Quins triumph

Gloucester-Hartpury won a thriller against Trailfinders Women and there were tries galore in Round 14 of Premiership Women’s Rugby.

The champions snuck home by two points after Bristol Bears had earlier moved into the play-off places, while Harlequins made it 10 straight wins to stay second.

On Sunday, Exeter Chiefs edged a nail-biting contest against Loughborough Lightning thanks to a last-minute try from Emily Tuttosi.

Saturday 18 January

Bristol Bears 43-29 Leicester Tigers – Ashton Gate

Holly Phillips scored a remarkable four tries as Bristol Bears moved into the top four with an entertaining win over Leicester Tigers.

Phillips grabbed two tries in each half as Bears came away with five points from this game, but Tigers earned a deserved bonus point of their own.

The hooker broke the deadlock after four minutes, quickly followed by Simi Pam after a stunning attack from the home side.

The lead was extended by Phillips’ second before Millie David brought up the bonus point on the half-hour, going over wide on the left.

Emily Henrich opened Tigers’ account before half-time, before Tahlia Brody got another for the visitors early in the second half.

Bears responded immediately as Phillips brought up her hat-trick, only for Meg Jones to get over for Leicester’s third.

But then came yet another for Phillips on the hour, making it 38-19 to Bears. A second for Jones ensured that Tigers would get something from the game before Gabrielle Nigrelli took the home side into the 40s.

But it was Leicester who had the final say, Charlotte Fray going over right at the death.

Bristol Bears

Tries: Phillips 4, Pam, David, Nigrelli

Leicester Tigers

Tries: Henrich, Brody, M Jones 2, Fray

Sale Sharks 10-43 Harlequins – CorpAcq Stadium

Harlequins cemented their place in the top four with a 10th consecutive victory as Ellie Kildunne grabbed a hat-trick away to Sale.

The Red Roses superstar put Quins in front after just six minutes in a tight first half, but Sale responded through Italy international Sofia Stefan.

Kildunne made the next for Sarah Parry but a Sale penalty cut the deficit to two points, Quins 12-10 up at the break.

The second half was more dominant for the visitors, Kildunne grabbing her second as she raced onto Freya Aucken’s box-kick.

Claudia Pena then scored the fourth, Kildunne again at the heart of it as she broke through before putting boot to ball to set up the Spaniard.

Carys Phillips added a maul try for Quins’ fifth before Kildunne brought up her hat-trick with 10 minutes to go.

There was still time for one more, Izzy Mayhew getting it to seal a fruitful trip to the North West.

Sale Sharks

Tries: Stefan

Harlequins

Tries: Kildunne 3, Parry, Pena, Phillips, Mayhew

Gloucester-Hartpury 33-31 Trailfinders Women - Kingsholm

Leaders Gloucester-Hartpury were given an almighty scare by Trailfinders Women at Kingsholm before edging to a two-point victory.

Despite a pair of tries from Mo Hunt, the champions found themselves trailing heading into the final quarter before turning things around.

They had started perfectly, Hunt with a chargedown and score, followed by a Mackenzie Carson try to make it 14-0.

But Rori Wood pulled one back for Trailfinders before Tyson Beukeboom got over to cut the deficit to two points.

Hunt’s second ensured the home side led 21-12 at the break, only for Wood to get her second and close the gap once more.

Alivia Leatherman put Trailfinders in front for the first time on 54 minutes, bringing up the bonus point in the process.

But trailing 24-21, the champs responded, Neve Jones and then Nel Metcalfe going over in the space of five minutes to make it 33-24.

Liz Musgrove closed the gap again and Trailfinders threw everything forward to try to get a match-winning score but Glos held on for the win.

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries: Hunt 2, Carson, Jones, Metcalfe

Trailfinders Women

Tries: Wood 2, Beukeboom, Leatherman, Musgrove

Sunday 19 January

Loughborough Lightning 15-19 Exeter Chiefs - cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens

Emily Tuttosi's late try earned Exeter Chiefs a thrilling 19-15 victory away at Loughborough Lightning.

Lightning looked set for another impressive victory thanks to Emily Scarratt's late penalty on her 50th appearance for the club.

But Tuttosi and Chiefs had other ideas, bundling over from a maul with the clock in the red to take victory.

There was little to choose between the sides throughout the match, with a try each for Alex Tessier and Alev Kelter putting the score at 7-7 at the break.

Lightning went ahead through Krissy Scurfield after an impressive break from Scarratt before Mikiela Nelson got Chiefs ahead despite Taylor Perry's red card.

And it was the visitors who eventually got the decisive third try to take the win and put their top four chase back on track after defeat to Bristol Bears last weekend.

80+5 Third penalty in injury time. Back to touch. This lineout is good. The drive is massive. Yes!!!!!!!!!

⚡️ 15-14⚔️#LOUvEXE | #SheInspires | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/pnogPcISx7

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) January 19, 2025

Loughborough Lightning

Tries: Kelter, Scurfield

Exeter Chiefs:

Tries: Tessier, Nelson, Tuttosi