Saracens, Bristol Bears & Leicester Tigers take wins in the PWR Up Series

Saracens triumphed in their second London derby of the season with PWR Up Series victory against Trailfinders Women at StoneX Stadium.

Meanwhile Bristol Bears clinched their first victory of the season with a win at home against Gloucester-Hartpury and Leicester Tigers also got their campaign off the ground with a win over Loughborough Lightning.

 

Saracens 33-20 Trailfinders Women – StoneX Stadium

A strong second half performance gave Saracens a 33-20 win against Trailfinders Women.

The visitors struck first collecting three points from the boot with two minutes on the clock, but Sarries responded quickly as Isla Alejandro crossed just 60 seconds later.

Rosie Inman and Abi Burton found the whitewash for Trailfinders shortly after.

May Campbell cut the deficit for the hosts from a sharp line-out, sending them into the changing rooms just three points behind.

The floodgates opened for Saracens in the second half as Bryony Field, Bryony Cleall and Poppy Cleall all claimed tries.

The visitors struck the final blow through a score from Jess Cooksey with two minutes left, but it wasn’t enough to regain the lead.

Saracens - 33

Tries – Isla Alejandro, May Campbell, Bryony Field, Poppy Cleall, Bryony Cleall

Trailfinders Women - 20

Tries – Rosie Inman, Abi Burton, Jess Cooksey

Full-time at StoneX 💫@SaracensWomen pick up another win in the PWR Up Series 👏#PWR

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 21, 2024

Bristol Bears 33-20 Gloucester-Hartpury – Shaftesbury Park

Bristol Bears picked up their first PWR Up Series victory in a spirited West Country battle with Gloucester-Hartpury at home.

Millie David crossed first for the hosts, surging around the edge with a stunning 50m try on the four-minute mark.

The winger repeated the feat 20 minutes later before the visitors sent Carys Williams-Morris over on debut.

After the break it was Jess Sprague’s turn to clinch a double for Bears and while Abileigh Priestnall and Bianca Blackburn gave Gloucester-Hartpury a late surge, Heidi Pashaei Tarighoun extended the hosts’ victory to 31-21.

Bristol Bears - 31

Tries – Millie David (2), Jess Sprague (2), Heidi Pashaei Tarighoun

Gloucester-Hartpury - 21

Tries – Carys Williams-Morris, Abileigh Priestnall, Bianca Blackburn

What a showdown 🤌@BristolBearsW pick up their first PWR Up Series victory 🐻#PWR

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 21, 2024

Loughborough Lightning 7-19 Leicester Tigers – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Leicester Tigers emerged from a two-and-a-half-hour showdown victorious against East Midlands rivals Loughborough Lightning.

It was Meg Davey who got the ball rolling for Lightning’s first and only try of the outing before a thunderstorm delayed proceedings for 20 minutes.

An Evie Wills score for the visitors left things all square at the break, reinforced in the second half by tries from Charlotte Daley and Elin Beaver to give Tigers their first victory of the inaugural PWR Up Series.

Loughborough Lightning - 7

Tries – Meg Davey

Leicester Tigers - 19

Tries –  Evie Wills, Charlotte Daley, Elin Beaver

. @TigersWomens get their PWR Up Series campaign off the ground!

They take the East Midlands derby spoils against @LightningRugby 🙌#PWR

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 21, 2024