Source: Craig Thomas/JMP

Tough day in the rain for Valkyries

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Worcester Valkyries endured a tough day in the rain as Saracens Women won 72-0 in the Tyrrells Premier 15s at Sixways on Saturday.

Marlie Packer, who joined Sarries from Bristol Ladies Rugby last month, scored six tries to mark her debut in spectacular fashion.

Poppy Cleall, Bryony Cleall, Lotte Clapp, Georgie Gulliver, Seraphine Okemba and Sonia Green also crossed the whitewash on a difficult day for the young Valkyries.

Saracens started well and were rewarded early on when Bryony Cleall offloaded the ball to her sister Poppy, who crashed over from close range.

The visitors looked in full control despite Worcester’s best efforts and made their dominance count from the set-piece.

Bryony Cleall peeled off the back of the scrum to crash over for Sarries’ second try before Rowan White burst through the Valkyries defence to allow captain Clapp to finish for their third.

Saracens asserted their dominance when Packer got her first try of the day from a driving maul.

The England international then bagged two more tries to secure a first-half hat-trick as the visitors bagged the bonus point before the break.

Saracens picked up where they left off after the interval as Gulliver raced clear for their seventh try of the day.

Okemba soon added another, picking up on a mistake from Worcester to slice her way through the defence from the 22.

Zoe Bennion brought the ball forward on a number of occasions for Valkyries but couldn’t get past the Sarries defence who shut Roy Davies’ side out.

Saracens then scored another try as Green galloped her way over after good work from Helena Rowland.

Packer then showed her class scoring two more tries before the final whistle to complete a resounding victory for Saracens.

Valkyries will look to redeem themselves at Richmond Athletic Ground as they face Richmond Women on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).

Timeline
04m | Poppy Cleall try 0-5
05m | Harrison con 0-7
14m | Bryony Cleall try 0-12
14m | Harrison con 0-14
18m | Clapp try 0-19
22m | Packer try 0-24
32m | Packer try 0-29
40m | Packer try 0-34
48m | Gulliver try 0-39
53m | Okemba try 0-44
60m | Packer try 0-49
60m | Harrison con 0-51
62m | Green try 0-56
62m | Harrison con 0-58
72m | Packer try 0-63
72m | Harrison con 0-65
80m | Packer try 0-70
80m | Harrison con 0-72

Valkyries | 15 Vicky Laflin, 14 Brooke Clarke (Gingell 70), 13 Megan Varley (Bixley 32-37), 12 Zoe Bennion, 11 Alexia McGahan (Malins 76), 10 Martha Setchfield (Bixley 54); 9 Jaz Clarke; 1 Carmen Tremelling (Gondwe 40 [Binks 61]), 2 Lark Davies (c), 3 Lauren Leatherland (Tremelling 74), 4 Helena Bunce, 5 Charlotte Browning, 6 Keeli Wood (Mackenzie 74), 7 Charlie Wilcock (Donnahey 58), 8 Cara Brincat

Replacements | 16 Akina Gondwe, 17 Lizzie Binks, 18 Rhiannon Donnahey, 19 Maisie Mackenzie, 20 Jaz Bixley, 21 Holly Malins, 22 Lia Gingell

Report courtesy of Worcester Valkyries