PWR Round 8 Review: Bears get revenge, Sarries bounce back and Tigers get off the mark

Leicester Tigers picked up their first of the season while Saracens bounced back from defeat in The Duel in Round 8 of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Elsewhere, Bristol Bears edged out Gloucester-Hartpury while Harlequins entertained against Trailfinders Women.

Saracens 32-21 Loughborough Lightning – StoneX Stadium

Saracens beat Loughborough Lightning in a seven-try thriller with Zoe Harrison playing a starring role.

The game took time to get going, with Lightning back Helena Rowland requiring treatment early on.

Harrison eventually provided the first points of the match with a try in the 15th minute which she duly converted.

Alysha Corrigan extended the hosts’ lead as the Canadian found her way through the Lightning defence to dot down.

Loughborough Lightning got on the scoreboard as Krissy Scurfield turned her way to squeeze over the line.

One 𝗛𝗲𝗹 of an assist!

Helen Nelson ➡️ Fran Goldthorp #SARvLOU | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/eTRGPgCAkJ

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) November 30, 2024

Fran Goldthorp turned from Scurfield’s provider to scorer of a try of her own to see the sides go into the break all square. 

Saracens again edged ahead as a third Canadian dotted down in the match with McKinley Hunt before a Harrison penalty extended the gap past a score. 

Alev Kelter was not daunted by that challenge as she scored against her club to cut the gap to three with 17 minutes to play. 

However, Fancy Bermudez allayed any nerves in North London with a bonus-point-sealing try before a penalty from Harrison rounded out the win. 

Scorers 

Saracens 32 

Tries: Zoe Harrison, Alysha Corrigan, McKinley Hunt, Fancy Bermudez 

Loughborough Lightning 21 

Tries: Krissy Scurfield, Fran Goldthorp, Alev Kelter 

𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥.😤

What a way for Fancy Bermudez to open her account in a Saracens shirt.🤩#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/aLlYuRyYXq

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) November 30, 2024

Gloucester-Hartpury 14-19 Bristol Bears – Kingsholm 

Bristol Bears exacted revenge for defeat in last year’s final as they beat Gloucester-Hartpury 19-14 at Kingsholm 

Bears’ Courtney Keight opened the scoring just as she did in the 2023/4 final, this time crossing after just seven minutes. 

Holly Aitchison then converted her own score to open a 12-point lead before Gloucester Hartpury pushed to get on the board in the first half with Neve Jones proving a menace. 

Take a bow @phoebemurray99 💪

Amber Reed with a ridiculously good chip through for Murray to collect and score 🙌

Reed converts 🎯

🎪 14-19 🐻 (62 mins)#GLOvBRI | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/n9O2UXNokq

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) November 30, 2024

However, Bears weathered the storm with Alisha Joyce-Butchers denying the Circus as they were unable to score before half-time. 

Ellie Rugman changed that early in the second half as the winger found space before Emma Sing converted to cut the gap to five. 

Gloucester then took the lead for the first time in the game as Millie Hyett benefitted from a strong driving line, before Sing provided the all-important extras. 

Bears were not done there though, as Phoebe Murray read Amber Reed’s chip perfectly to cross before Reed converted in what was the game-winning score. 

Scorers 

Gloucester-Hartpury 14 

Tries: Ellie Rugman, Millie Hyett 

Bristol Bears 19 

Tries: Courtney Keight, Holly Aitchison, Phoebe Murray 

THAT WINNING FEELING 🎶#GLOvBRI | #BristolBears | @huboofulfilment pic.twitter.com/oxcMpd8CDp

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) November 30, 2024

Harlequins 47-26 Trailfinders Women – Twickenham Stoop 

Harlequins won their second London derby in a row with a pulsating 47-26 victory over Trailfinders Women at the Stoop. 

Quins looked to pick up where they left off after victory in The Duel last weekend as Kayleigh Powell went under the sticks in the fifth minute. 

Trailfinders hit right back through Lisa Thomson to level proceedings with just nine minutes on the clock. 

A second Powell scored for Quins, as this time Connie Powell crashed over to restore the hosts’ lead. 

Claudia Pena drove over to put the hosts in full control before Lizzie Hanlon scored to secure the bonus point. 

Grace White responded for Trailfinders but they were unable to keep Quins quiet for long as skipper Jade Konkel got Quins’ fifth of the first half. 

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A post shared by Harlequins Women 🃏 (@harlequinswomen)

The second half began a little more sedately, with Tyson Beukeboom putting on the first points in the 63rd minute to keep Trailfinders’ hopes alive.

However that kicked the hosts back into gear as Babalwa Latsha crossed for Harlequins’ sixth to move them to 40 points.

Abby Dow and Sarah Parry then became the 10th and 11th different scorers of the game to keep the tempo high till the final whistle.

Scorers

Harlequins 47

Tries: Kayleigh Powell, Connie Powell, Claudia Pena, Lizzie Hanlon, Jade Konkel, Babalwa Latsha, Sarah Parry

Trailfinders Women 26

Tries: Lisa Thomson, Grace White, Tyson Beukeboom, Abby Dow

Sale Sharks 17-34 Leicester Tigers - Salford Community Stadium

Leicester Tigers secured their first win of the season in emphatic fashion, with a six-try victory over Sale Sharks.

It was the first time Sharks had hosted a double-header with the men's team but Tigers fulfilled their brief as party-poopers, leading from minute one to the final whistle.

They hit the front after just 60 seconds through Charlotte Fray and despite a quick response from Holly Thorpe, were always in control.

It's the Meg Jones show 🤩

A sensational solo score in each half for the @TigersWomens centre 👏

Watch the closing stages live on @rugbyontnt 📺#PWR | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/af3t8QaKi6

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) December 1, 2024

Leah Bartlett burrowed over for their second try before Meg Jones ran from inside her own half after a Sharks mistake to give them some breathing space.

Julia Omokhuale added the bonus point score and Amy Cokayne got in on the act to make it 29-5 at the break.

The second half was a quieter affair, with Catie Benson crossing to give Sharks faint hope before Jones ran in a second superb solo score to put the seal on a memorable Tigers win.

Thorpe scored again late on after an inch-perfect crossfield kick but there was no time to pursue a losing bonus-point.

Scorers

Sale Sharks 17

Tries: Holly Thorpe (2), Catie Benson

Leicester Tigers 34

Tries: Charlotte Fray, Leah Bartlett, Meg Jones (2), Julia Omokhuale, Amy Cokayne