365 Sporting Days

This year sees a World Cup taking place in New Zealand, England are going into the competition on a run of 25 wins, a record for international rugby teams, they last lost a game in July 2019, these are exciting times for English rugby and they squad listed below must be travelling with high confidence.

Red Roses squad for the World Cup in New Zealand

Forwards:

• Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 32 caps)
• Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
• Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 30 caps)
• Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 27 caps)
• Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 57 caps)
• Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 64 caps)
• Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 70 caps)
• Lark Davies (Bristol Bears, 41 caps)
• Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 7 caps)
• Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 135 caps)
• Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
• Laura Keates (University of Worcester Warriors, 62 caps)
• Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 51 caps)
• Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 11 caps)
• Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 20 caps)
• Marlie Packer (Saracens, 84 caps)
• Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps)
• Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
• Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)

Backs:

• Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 10 caps)
• Jess Breach (Saracens, 23 caps)
• Abby Dow (Wasps, 24 caps)
• Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 40 caps)
• Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps)
• Leanne Infante (Saracens, 52 caps)
• Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 25 caps)
• Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 20 caps)
• Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 42 caps)
• Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 5 caps)
• Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
• Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 103 caps)
• Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors, 54 caps)

Saracens have changed things slightly this season, where the Women’s games have been included in the main season ticket previously that’s not only the case for those who bought a 3 year package. A season ticket for the year is just £70, with 10 home games before any play offs etc, £7 a match is a pretty good deal to watch last years Premier 15’s Champions. The crowd for this early season Allianz Cup game, was however, disappointing. I don’t know how we attract more people to watch this entertaining game, there still seems to be some resistance amongst traditional rugby fans.

Bristol travelled to London on the back of a home win against Sale, running in winner by 47 to 8 – emphatic! An old foe of Saracens, Dave Word led a fierce warm up session as Head Coach.

We had a hat-trick on both sides, one from the Bears Fullback Ella Lovibond, who soared down the pitch 3 times in the first half, she’d scored 3 by 35 minutes in some style. May Campbell the Saracens Hooker dotted down 3 times herself, in a rather different style, but equally important scores.

Two very different Hat-Tricks

Saracens hit back quickly after Lovibond’s first try, as Abi Evans ran down the left wing to score, the 26 year old Scottish international joined Saracens this season, a good start for her!

Bears extended their lead with a try from Lucy Burgess, her first of two for the day, the scrum half is another of the Bears speed backs.

A good afternoon for the Bears Nine Lucy Burgess

Lovibond’s second try stretched the Bears lead to 16 points as the scores went to Saracens 5 Bears 21. May Campbell scored two of her three to pull Saracens back to within 2, that was after some great work by her fellow forwards. She then scored her 3rd on 31 minutes to put Saracens ahead by 5. However, 4 minutes later Lovibond struck with her third to regain the lead for Bristol. We’d seen a lot of speed from the Bristol backs, we then saw a turn of speed from Simi Pam – she looked like she’s tAKEN leaf out of Ellis Genge’s book! Bristol were ahead and the teams went on with the scores on Saracens 26 Bristol Bears 35.

Doctor Simi Pam scored a great try – one that would have graced any backs record book!

Saracens opened up the scoring in the second half with Isla Alejandro touching down, they try was converted, but those were the last points added by the home teams as the Bears really took off. Saracens Jodie Turn was shown a yellow on 49 minutes, a team card pretty much. Bristol scored 2 minutes later as they rolled the maul over the line, Holly Phillips scoring the points.

Alejandro touched down for Saracens

Two minutes after Saracens went down to 14, Holly Phillips followed suit

A scrum saw a need for Saracens to introduce a prop and on came 41 year old Rocky Clarke, she won her 50th England cap in 2010, 10 years ago! That, is quite remarkable! But it was a prop in white who scored the next try, Ellie Mulhearn powering over after a tap and go.

That one was enjoyed by the Bears pack!

The Bears had a 14 point lead with 58 minutes on the clock. Lucy Burgess’s second stretched their sore to 54 points. But they weren’t finished and yet and Welsh international Courtney Keith went over in the corner, she added a second on 80 minutes and Bristol Bears were going home with a memorable win – the final score was Saracens 33 Bristol Bears 66.

The first of Courtney Keight’s two tries!

I found the shouting by a couple of Saracens fans very hard to take again, I have no idea if the same people do it at the men’s games, but the constant, extremely loud criticism of the officials and the pseudo coaching is grating and must be extremely annoying for away fans and any of those on the pitch who can hear. One such individual didn’t clap any of the tries from The Bears and there were some very good efforts. Saracens face Sale Sharks on October 15th at Heywood Road in another Allianz Cup match, Bristol Bears Loughborough Lighting away in the cup.