Match report: Bristol Bears Women 12-40 Exeter Chiefs Women

Exeter Chiefs Women took third place in the PWR Cup with a six-try win over Bristol Bears.

Chiefs almost scored from the kick-off as Bristol gave away a penalty in their own 22. Fly-half Liv McGoverne kicked to touch and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald’s throw in at the lineout was gathered in and driven over the line for the Ireland hooker to score. McGoverne converted to give Chiefs an early 0-7 lead.

Another penalty kick and lineout gave Chiefs their second try. A strong carry for flanker Taz Bricknell released the ball in open play for the backs to pass down the line to winger Francesca Granzotto to score her first try on her debut. McGoverne took the extras from the touchline.

After suffering in the set-piece last weekend, Chiefs were happy to be back on top when they won a penalty at Bristol’s first scrum.

Chiefs’ third try came from another penalty in their 22 with a quick-tap from scrum-half Lucy Nye seeing flanker Maisy Allen scamper over the line. Another conversion made the score 0-21.

It would not be a game full of tries if Hope Rogers did not get involved! Three pirouettes from close range saw the USA prop go over to get her back into the swing of things at club level and make the score 0-28 after another successful conversion.

Half-time: 0-28

Bristol had an early chance in the second half with a lineout on Chiefs’ 22, but Allen stole the ball for centre Gabby Cantorna to take it out of the red zone and lock Linde van der Velden added more yards. Chiefs got themselves back in Bristol’s half, but a knock-on gave possession back to the home side while winger Eilidh Sinclair was helped off with an injury.

The scrum resulted in a penalty to Chiefs which was kicked to touch for lock and captain Emily Robinson to set up the drive but as it rolled round to release Moloney-MacDonald, the ball was knocked on. The scrum went back to Bristol but on their own five-metre line.

The ensuing move saw Bristol take the ball over their own try-line to give Chiefs a scrum from close quarters. No 8 and former Bear Gabriella Nigrelli peeled off the back to score.

Granzotto almost scored the perfect interception try but ran of steam as she reached the 22 and kicked ahead but could not get to the ball on time. Chiefs had their tails up though and the next move propelled Bricknell over the whitewash.

The coaches began to empty the bench, seeing Maddie Flutey get her debut after just a few weeks at the club.

The Bears avoided a scoreless game when a lineout, just outside Chiefs’ five-metre line, saw them rumble over with Isabel van der Straaten taking the spoils and Jenny Hesketh getting the conversion to make it 7-40 with 10 minutes to play.

A second lineout saw them try the same move but when the ball was kicked cross field to find some open space, it was knocked on and Chiefs regained possession. It was short-lived though as Bears grappled the ball back and won themselves a penalty. The resulting lineout was more successful, and another driving maul was, again, lucrative for van der Straaten.

This was the last score of the game and saw Chiefs take a win on the road ahead of their first trip of the PWR season in two weeks’ time. Third place secured, but more importantly, some preparation completed for the league season.

Full-time: 12-40

Bristol Bears Women: E Lovibond (G Radziejowski 60); A Coles, S Picton-Powell, N Evans (M David 37), J Hesketh; L Skuse, R Clarke (T Ryall 60); M Davies, R Carr, A Jah (S Orrin 60), N Beet, N John, D Short (I van der Straaten 51), J Rogers, J Herring.

Tries: van der Straaten (2)

Con: Hesketh

Exeter Chiefs Women: E Sinclair (N Brennan 48); F Granzotto, N McGillivray (L Nye 76), G Cantorna (M Flutey 51), K Buchanan; L McGoverne (G Cantorna 68), L Nye (S Wong 51); D Swann (A Middlebrooke 58), Cli Moloney-MacDonald (S Bekir Fuente 64), H Rogers (A Skeates 59), L van der Velden (L Whitley 58), E Robinson (c), T Bricknell, M Allen (vc), G Nigrelli (Z Dare 58).

Tries: Moloney-MacDonald, Granzotto, Allen, Rogers, Nigrelli, Bricknell

Cons: McGoverne (5)

Referee: Emily Hope

Attendance: 320