Worcester Valkyries battled their way to the semi-finals at Sunday’s Women’s Premiership Sevens at Broadstreet Rugby Club in Coventry.
The Valkyries were undone 31-12 by Bristol Ladies in the semis, as they were pipped to a place on the big stage at the Ricoh Arena for the final.
The Valkyries breezed their way through their pool matches with three straight victories over Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Aylesford Bulls Ladies and Richmond Ladies – but slipped up at the semi-final stage.
Saracens were eventually crowned champions of the tournament after defeating Bristol 29-7 in the final.
Worcester Valkyries 29-12 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Valkyries got their campaign underway with a resounding victory over Darlington Mowden Park Sharks as Lydia Thompson and Sam Bree helped themselves to a brace apiece.
Valkyries raced into a 19-0 lead at the break thanks to tries from Thompson, Bree and Zoe Bennion while England’s Ceri Large kicked two conversions.
Darlington produced an impressive second-half fightback but second scores for both Thompson and Bree put the Sharks to the sword as Worcester enjoyed a 29-12 win.
Aylesford Bulls Ladies 0-26 Worcester Valkyries
The Valkyries marched on in their second clash of the day after sweeping aside Aylesford Bulls Ladies.
Aylesford started strongly and thought they had the game’s first score, only for the officials to rule it out.
But Worcester responded with quick thinking from Ceri Large who put Bianca Blackburn in for a breakaway try which the former then converted.
Aylesford continued to press but Sam Bree intercepted a loose pass and touched down with Large again adding the extras to make it 14-0 at the interval.
After the break, a surging run and offload from Rhi Parker was knocked on but smart work from the Valkyries player saw her hunt down the Aylesford scrum-half, collecting the ball and putting Alexia Mavroudis through for her debut Valkyries try.
Parker added her own try shortly after some great work from Lydia Thompson and with Large adding another conversion, Valkyries secured an emphatic win.
Richmond Ladies 5-41 Worcester Valkyries
The Valkyries stormed their way into the semi-finals with a crushing victory over Richmond Ladies.
Valkyries came out of the blocks firing with Sam Bree scoring two tries in quick succession in opposite corners.
Richmond hit back with a try of their own but it would be their only one of the game, although they were far from out of the contest with the scores poised at 12-5 at the break.
Zoe Bennion scooped up a loose ball to put Josie Symonds through resulting in a try, before Alexia Mavroudis showed great strength and pace to allow Bianca Blackburn to score.
Symonds helped herself to a second try followed by an explosion of power from Sarah Davey as she got on the scoresheet for Valkyries’ sixth.
Ceri Large knocked over two conversions with one for Megan Goddard, but it was Symonds who had the last say of the game, completing her hat-trick and sealing an unbeaten run in the pool stages for the Valkyries.
Cup Semi-final: Worcester Valkyries 12-31 Bristol Ladies
Bristol got off to a flyer with two early tries putting the Valkyries on the back foot.
Despite the Valkyries’ best efforts they were unable to get on the scoreboard in the first-half, conceding two more tries as Bristol took an unassailable 24-0 lead into the break.
However, Worcester didn’t give up, as Josie Symonds and Sian Williams reduced the deficit with Ceri Large adding a conversion but Bristol’s first-half dominance proved too much as they secured a place at the Ricoh Arena in the final.
Report courtesy of Worcester Valkyries
