Sat. Nov 23rd, 2024
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Sarah Beckett playing for Gloucester-Hartpury
Sarah Beckett scored the opening try for Gloucester-Hartpury after five minutes

Gloucester-Hartpury continued their Premiership Women’s Rugby title defence with a 12-0 win over Bristol Bears.

Sarah Beckett opened the scoring before Emma Sing added the rest to claim victory at Shaftesbury Park.

Kelsey Jones was sin-binned for dropping the maul in the 61st minute but Bristol Bears failed to capitalise.

Gloucester-Hartpury are unbeaten in two matches so far this season while Bristol Bears have suffered back-to-back defeats.

Friday’s outcome means Gloucester-Hartpury have won nine of their past 10 Premiership games against Bristol Bears.

On Saturday, Saracens made it three from three against local London rivals Harlequins to stay top with a 31-0 victory away at The Stoop.

Tries from May Campbell, Marlie Packer and a Paige Farries double made the difference as a penalty try inflicted further damage on the scoreline as Sarries pulled five points clear at the top.

After an early injury to new Harlequins recruit Carys Phillips, Campbell burst over the line for Saracens’ opener in the 26th minute from a close-range line-out.

Packer followed in the 36th minute from a solid driving maul and powered over before half-time.

In the second half, Farries scored her first try in a Saracens shirt after latching on to Amelia MacDougall’s cross-field kick.

Ellie Kildunne came close for the hosts at the restart but was stopped in her tracks by Saracens’ defence and they were subsequently awarded a penalty try after relentless attacking pressure.

Farries added the final score for her second as Saracens came away with a bonus-point win on the road.

Saturday’s fixture between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs was postponed because of frozen ground.

On Sunday, two tries each from Bo Westcombe-Evans and Maja Meuller helped Loughborough Lightning to a 24-12 win over Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road to lift them off the bottom of the table.

As part of a Tigers double-header, Lightning made a dream start with Westcombe-Evans going over in the corner after just two minutes and Meuller bursting over for the second on the quarter-hour.

The Swedish international added her second from a rolling maul as Lightning led 19-0 at the break, but Tigers responded with a maul try of their own from Tahlia Brody.

Tigers kept coming, with Amy Relf grabbing an opportunistic score, but another smart finish from Westcombe-Evans brought up the bonus point and made the game safe for Loughborough.

Fixtures

Saturday, 2 December

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs – Postponed

Harlequins 0-31 Saracens

Sunday, 3 December

Leicester Tigers 12-24 Loughborough Lightning

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