365 Sporting Days

The Prem Rugby season finished with a win for Northampton Saints at Twickenham, the women’s competition was just coming to its climax. Saracens secured a home semi-final against Bristol Bears. There was as a distinct difference in size during the warm ups, it would be interesting to see how the game was played.

The first scrum was in the Bears half and a Saracens put in, the first attempt collapsed, the 2nd a penalty to Bears. The line out throw was plucked out of the air by Sophie de Goede who stormed up the pitch, Saracens went close but were stopped, they were awarded a penalty, but the next foray resulted in a Bears penalty. The Bears line out wasn’t firing and Saracens benefited from both that and the next line out from a penalty.

Saracens won a scrum put in after holding the Bears maul up after the next line out. The ball was moved quickly from the base of the scrum and out to Coreen Grant who scored in spite of a high tackle, the kick was a hard one but converted by Zoe Harrison.

Saracens were awarded a penalty just after the kick off but Harrison kicked the ball long. A fired up Saracens pack won a penalty in the scrum, the kick was good this time. Bears were awarded a penalty in the line out, Bears went for the scrum. Bears came away with the ball. They attacked with some intent but Saracens won a penalty to halt them.

Saracens were awarded a couple of penalties after Bears had a scrum in their own half. Bears took the ball on the 2nd line out, then a penalty. Saracens took the ball after the Bears line out and, moving the ball quickly McKinley Hunt scored, the successful conversion gave Saracens a 14 point lead with 26 minutes on the clock.

Harrison kicked the ball too long as Bears attacked, taking play bank into the Saracens 22. Bears knocked on having taken the ball at the scrum. Bears won a penalty at the scrum.

Saracens help up the Bears maul after the line out. Harrison cleared the ball back to the Halfway line. Bears won a penalty as a Saracens player got in the way of your scrum half. Bears rolled over after their line out, Lark Atkin-Davies was in possession of the ball. The kick fell short.

The half finished with the score on Saracens 14 Bears 5. The first half was fast paced and exciting. What would the 2nd half bring?

Bears won a penalty early in the 2nd half, Lark Atkin-Davies scored her 2nd as Bears rolled the maul over from the line out. Amber Reed converted the try, to close the gap to 3. Saracens knocked on as they tried to regain the ball after the kick off. Bears had a great attacking opportunity after kicking after the scrum, the ball wee knocked out by Saracens. Saracens then gave away a penalty. Right in front of the posts, Bears kicked to touch. Their maul didn’t work but their passing did, from right back to left, Courtney Keight scoring a try out on an empty wing.

Bears stormed back after the kick off but gave away a penalty to give momentum back to Saracens. That momentum looked to have paid off, but Paige Farries had made a double movement, however there was a Bears knock on which prevented the ball getting to her cleanly, a penalty try was awarded and Reneeda Bonner was shown a yellow card.

Saracens had a good attack after a Harrison kick was missed by Bears, I think she was played by de Goede, but funnily enough the bulk of the crowd didn’t notice. The attack finished with a knock on. Bears won a penalty in the scrum to clear their lines. In spite of playing with a penalty in their pocket, Bears knocked on but the ref had deemed the advantage to be over.

A penalty for Saracens saw them back in the Bears half, just. Bears knocked on in the line out. Saracens won the scrum ball but knocked on as play progressed.

Sadly Poppy Cleall’s 150th appearance finished with an injury.

Saracens gave away a couple of penalties the 2nd giving a line out close to the Saracens line, Saracens didn’t compete at the line out, but stopped the maul moving. Bears passed the ball out and Atkin-Davies scored her 3rd try. The conversion gave Bears a 3 point lead on 68 minutes.

Another Saracens penalty near half way put Bears close to their 22. Leanne Infante was then penalised and shown a yellow card, in spite of doing all she could to leave the tackle area. Things went from bad to worse as Emma Taylor was shown yellow. Saracens gave away yet another penalty, that count was way too high throughout the match!

Hannah Botterman was held but Bears came again. The ball went out to Bonner on the wing, who scored possibly the best try of the game. The kick was missed but Bears had a lead of 8 with 3 minutes remaining.

Bears were awarded a penalty as they had a scrum put in, on their own half. Saracens penalty count was far too high in this match and Bears made the most of that. They were deserved winners and go to Exeter for the final.