An opportunity to see both Saracens teams in one day was not to be sniffed at. I had a good journey to the City and managed an evening at a Folk Club after a very tasty Italian meal. I also got to see more of Bristol than I’d seen before. I hadn’t realised how hilly it is!
The day brought clear blue skies which was perfect! The Ashton Gate stadium is an impressive one, a good place to spend the day.
Bears kicked off and Poppy Cleall had her first touch. Bears won the ball back as Saracens attacked, they then won the first penalty of the game. The ball went awry for Bears but Saracens kicked the ball away, they won a penalty which was delayed with an injury to Bryony Field, who happily got back to her feet.
The first scrum was a Bears put in and had to be re-set. Bears came away with the ball and were awarded another penalty as they attacked. The ball was dropped on the wing after some good passes across the line.
A Saracens put on for the scrum, they moved the quickly before losing it in the middle of the pitch. Bears gave away a penalty as they attacked. The Saracens line out saw a Bears Free Kick. Saracens won the ball back, but knocked on.
Bears won a penalty in the scrum, but missed touch. Saracens dropped the ball as they attacked to find themselves deep in their own half. Before yet another knock on.
Bears gave away a penalty as they attacked. Saracens won the line out, then….. knocked on! Bears won a penalty in the scrum. The ball was somehow intercepted by a Saracens player and they headed up the pitch, with Jemma Jo Linkins going over the line. However it was a double movement and wiped off. Another penalty for Bears. The game was scoreless after 20 minutes
Saracens knocked the ball on in the line out. Bears lost the ball and Saracens attacked to score through Sydney Grierson. Amelia MacDougall had a good kick attempt but was just the wrong side of the posts.
Saracens were charged down, giving away a penalty as the ball was regathered. A great opportunity for Bears they were held close to the Saracens line with Saracens awarded the scrum put in, then a penalty. Bears won the ball and their Centre had a good chip over the Saracens defence. A Simi Pam clear out was referred by the TMO, but deemed to be a good.
Saracens went close to the Bears line but were penalised as they went. Saracens won the ball at the Bears line out and they got the ball out onto the wing. Moving the ball quickly they scored through May Campbell. The conversion was good.
Bears had a good attacking spell before the ball was knocked on by Saracens in the tackle. Bears moved the ball quickly and it got out to the wing, Millie David put the burners on and scored, the conversion was a good one. I thought a Saracens player was taken out as they went, but that wasn’t checked.
The kick off didn’t go 10 giving Bears a scrum on the halfway line. Saracens won a penalty as the ball progressed, they moved the ball quickly from the line out and Sydney Gregson went over to score. The team’s went in at half-time with the score on Bears 7 Saracens 17.
Bears struggled to get away from the line after the kick off but a great break by one of the Bears backs saw them deep into the Saracens half.
Saracens won a penalty but knocked on at the line out, play was pulled back for the scrum. Bears passed into touch.
Saracens were awarded a penalty and threw to the front of the line out, playing with another penalty pending, they scored through Campbell, MacDougall’s kick was good.
Bears had a couple of penalties which saw them attacking from the 5metre line, they rumbled over with some ease. Lana Skeldon put the ball down. The kick missed the posts.
The first scrum of the second half saw Bears push Saracens to win a penalty. They then rolled the maul from the line out and Saracens were penalised for side entry. Saracens held up the next maul.
Bears scored after Lucy Burgess took a quick tap tackle. She got close to the line but was stopped the ball made its way out to Millie David who scored. That closed the gap to 7.
Saracens scored through Sydney Gregson as she broke from the line to score under the posts. The kick was good.
Bears replacement scrum half intercepted the ball deep in the Bears half, she put the ball down but once checked she was deemed to be offside. It seemed fairly obvious with the bare eye.
To add insult to injury Saracens went back up to the other end and scored through Bryony Field. The kick was good.
Bears scored after a quick penalty they tried to batter through with their forwards but playing with a penalty pending they got that ball to Amber Reed who scored.
Saracens won that ball from the kick off then a penalty. With a minute on the clock MacDougall took a successful kick. Play was restarted however. The ball was kickex off. The final score was Bristol Bears 24 Saracens 41.
May Campbell was awarded the Player of the Match award.
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