Match report: Bristol Bears Women 45 - 17 Exeter Chiefs Women

Caroline Moore at Ashton Gate

Exeter Chiefs Women swapped fourth for fifth place in the PWR with Bristol Bears Women in this Westcountry derby. With a game hand, Chiefs still have a shot at the PWR semi-finals though.

It was a tough outing at Ashton Gate with Bristol Bears scoring four tries in the first half to seal an early bonus point. The Bears were making the most of their home advantage with in-form Sarah Bern powering through defenders following a lineout to release scrum-half Kiera Bevan for their first try.

This looked like it was going to be a penalty-lineout-maul-try kind of day, and a cheeky lineout move from Chiefs saw them get back in the Bears' 22. A classic snipe from scrum-half Flo Robinson saw her break the gain-line before being backed up by flanker Maddie Feaunati then prop Flo Long. But it was fellow prop Hope Rogers who got over the line after Feaunati fought to keep the ball in field. That made the score 7-5.

The last home game season was also a chance for the fans to watch Ilona Maher in action before she returns to the US. She duly delivered with a try despite Claudia MacDonald's best defensive attempts.

Centre Alex Tessier then clashed heads with Feaunati, which saw Sabrina Poulin come onto the field after her countrywoman failed an HIA.

Penalties began to undo any good work Chiefs put in around the field. A lineout and drive saw hooker Lark Atkin-Davies over followed by the same score and move just before half-time to make it 26-5.

Half-time: 26-5

Chiefs struggled to get out of Bristol's 22 as the second half resumed. They lost a lineout 10 metres out from their own try-line and Bears were ready to pounce allowing Maher to get her second down the left wing.

The visitors’ issues were compounded when Liv McGoverne was shown a yellow card for being off her feet. The ensuing penalty was kicked to touch and the lineout, drive and inevitable try gave Atkin-Davies her hat-trick.

Chiefs were not giving up the fight. An Emily Robinson hit forces Bristol to spill the ball and Rogers’ pick-and-go and pass to Flo Robinson sees the scrum-half break two tackles to score. She converted her own try to seal her standout performance for the afternoon.

Bristol came back though with another penalty-lineout-try special but this time for lock Abbie Ward. Amber Reed continued to knock over the conversions to add to Chiefs’ woes.

Some light relief came in the form of a try from replacement winger Georgina Tasker. Chiefs had actually fluffed their lineout but got the scrum from a Bears knock-on. Flo Robinson passed to McGoverne and onto Tasker for her first try for the club.

As the game reached its last minute, there was one more lineout opportunity for Chiefs. Clara Nielson threw to Niamh Orchard and the backs released Poulin then MacDonald. The forwards kept it tight and centre Nancy McGillivray tried to break through but a few moves later and Chiefs were penalised for holding on.

The referee’s whistle went and with it the chance of a four-try bonus-point. Credit to the players for fighting to the end to try to secure that one point.

Two more games to play and top four is still possible. We go again.

Full-time: 45-17

Bristol Bears Women: C Keight; R Bonner, P Murray, A Reed (M Varley 72), I Maher (M David 54); H Aitchison, K Bevan (F Lewis 72); S Pam (H Botterman 61), L Atkin-Davies (H Phillips 72), S Bern (G Nigrelli 72), H Cunningham, A Ward, C Balogun (E Clarke 65), A M Butchers, E Gallagher

Tries: Bevan, Maher (2), Atkin-Davies (3), Ward

Cons: Bevan, Reed (4)

Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; C MacDonald, N McGillivray, A Tessier (S Poulin 26), K Buchanan (G Tasker 71); L McGoverne, F Robinson (vc); H Rogers (C Jacoby 33), E Tuttosi (C Nielson 52), F Long (D Swann 61), P Leitch (c) (T Bricknell 66), L van der Velden, D Wall (N Orchard 50), M Feaunati), R Johnson (E Robinson 50)

Tries: Rogers, F Robinson, Tasker

Cons: F Robinson

Yellow card: McGoverne

Referee: H Grant

Attendance: 4,695