The tightness of the result (see below) tells us all we need to know about the narrow margins at work.
G-H were on top for long periods of the game, their fluent combinations threatening to open up the Bears’ defences time and again. Yet they managed only three tries for all that endeavour.
The first try came after barely two minutes. It derived from that pet hate of mine, the caterpillar ruck. Bears took their time forming up, Keira Bevan hoisted a very deliberate box-kick, but, as so often happens, it put the opposition in charge. Sarah Beckett found herself doing her Sarah Bern turn in the centre; she broke through dangerously, took and retrieved a pass and was over.
That buoyed the home crowd.
Another chip ahead by Bevan was caught by Lleucu George who picked her spot to gain a mass of territory. Her kicking was to prove an important ingredient in G-H’s final success.
For the next twenty minutes the Cherry-and-Whites looked confident; they retained most of the possession, but couldn’t unlock the Bears’ defences. This was partly due to mishaps at the line-out. The presence of Sam Monaghan and Zoe Aldcroft among the waiting catchers points to where the fault lay.
On the half-hour everything went like clockwork: throw, catch and drive. Kelsey Jones found redemption by claiming the touchdown.
Half-time 14-0
This was far from a convincing lead. Bristol’s performance now reflected what Dave Ward must have suggested to them over the lemons. They roared on to the attack with the inevitable result: Lark Davies opened their account with her 22nd try of the season. Needless to say, she didn’t scamper down the wing on a 30 metre run. (14-7)
Both sides were guilty of handling errors that put paid to promising moves. Tatyana Heard made an exciting break, but Monaghan couldn’t hold her less than friendly pass.
The Bristol midfield pair, Amber Reed and Phoebe Murray, showed how things should be done. In thickish traffic Reed hoisted a chip which Murray somehow managed to regather. A few moments later there was Davies once more finishing off a drive to the line. That was her 23rd offering of the season. By my calculations, that leaves her just one score behind the all-time record-holder in the Prem 15s, Kelly Smith, who was on hand to observe events. Sadly for Elinor Snowsill her conversion attempt ricocheted off a post. (14-12)
Nerves jangled again.
At least the hosts finished the game well in charge. A delightful sequence saw the forwards drive remorselessly at the visitors’ line. Finally the chief puppeteer, Mo Hunt, sent the ball wide right, where Heard offered Rachel Lund a clear run to the line.
Result: Gloucester-Hartpury 21 Bristol Bears 12
Player of the Match: Alex Matthews
Teams
G-H
1 Muir 2 K. Jones 3 Delgado 4 Monaghan 5 Aldcroft 6 Matthews 7 Lewis 8 Beckett 9 Hunt 10 George 11 Venner 12 Heard 13 Lund 14 Rugman 15 Sing
Bench: 16 N Jones 17 Buggy 18 Tuipulotu 19 Learned 20 Brock 21 Blackburn 22 Bridger 23 Neumann
Bristol Bears:
1 Pam 2 L. Davies 3 Muir 4 Cunningham 5 Burns 6 Butchers 7 Molloy 8 Marston 9 Bevan 10 Snowsill 11 Coles 12 Reed 13 Murray 14 Wills 15 Lovibond
Bench: 16 Phillps 17 Pyrs 18 Mulhearn 19 Barwick 20 King 21 Burgess 22 Skuse 23 White
Afterthoughts
It’s unlikely the winners’ next opponents, either Exeter Chiefs or Saracens, will have been greatly perturbed by what they saw. G-H really should have put more points on the board. The coaching staff and analysts will seek out reasons why they didn’t. Did the importance of the result affect the team? Surely not, they have so many highly experienced operators in their ranks.
There was a decent crowd of over 2,000 present, but by today’s standards somewhat disappointing. Visiting fans didn’t have far to come, and they knew they could look forward to great tussles all over the field.
The final fixture: Saturday 24 June, KO 15.00, Kingsholm, Gloucester
Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs or Saracens
