First PWR Semi-Final 2024
A quite astonishing reversal of fortune: Saracens are downed at home, so fail to make yet another final.
Here we had the two clubs with the tightest defences in the league, Bears better even than Sarries. The last time the two sides met at the StoneX Sarries won 32-10. But in the reverse match Bears won 35-10. Now we know that should have been our clear warning.
For once, Sarries could not assert their authority in the second half. A 9-point lead at the break dissolved into an 8-point deficit where it counts. So Bears can take great credit for gaining the first ever away win in a semi.
Any crowd nerves were stilled when Coreen Grant put the home side ahead inside the opening quarter. The Scottish winger just managed to ground the ball as a huge tackle came in from Deborah Wills. Grant was the player keeping long-term captain, Lotte Clapp, on the bench. McKinley Hunt’s short-range drive got the Sarries’ flags waving even more wildly.
When a leading try-scorer has to leave the field injured, it no longer means an end to hopes of winning. Willis was replaced by Courtney Keight, and she was to have a role to play.
But first, when in need, call up Lark Atkin-Davies. She scored her 9 millionth try buried under a pile of bodies.
Half-time: 14-5
That late score relit the spark in Bears’ bellies.
One aspect of the game Sarries have been able to rely on in times of need is the strength of the pack. But not now. Bears set up a maul which started a good ten metres out and didn’t stop till it was over the line. Sarries were mortal. Needless to say LA-D had started in with a pin-point throw and finished it somewhere below ground-level.
Now the backs took their turn, and it was Keight who had the pleasure of completing a devastating move. For the first time they were in the lead. (14-17).
This was to be a game of small margins. The next incident saw Reneeqa Bonner yellowed for a so-called ‘deliberate’ knock-on. I continue to place ‘deliberate’ in apostrophes since what happens on the field doesn’t tally with any sense of ‘deliberate’ that I’ve yet met. The outcome was the inevitable penalty try, and Sarries retook the lead.
It’s to Bears’ credit that they didn’t concede a point while they were down to 14.
Who will they pick to bring them in front again? That was a good idea: they chose LA-D, who posted her hat-trick. (21-24)
This was to become another game disfigured by a shower of cards. If you like farewell cards, you’ll be well pleased. They are so contagious that we’re in danger of seeing as many people sitting on the naughty step as on the bench – and World Rugby still hasn’t announced a decision on reducing that number from eight.
First it was Leanne Infante, only six minutes after replacing Ella Wyrwas, then the Canadian Emma Taylor who were given their marching orders. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to type 15 v 13, but it’s a few thousand too many. Already three points down, Sarries now faced a vertical cliff-face to mount. In the circumstances they did pretty well, but they couldn’t keep Bonner out as she skipped her way to the decisive score.
The near impossible had happened.
Result: 21-29
Teams:
Saracens
15 Breach 14 Grant 13 Gregson 12 McKenna 11 Farries 10 Harrison 9 Wyrwas 1 Hunt 2 Campbell 3 Clifford 4 Evans 5 Taylor 6 De Goede 7 M. Packer (co-captain) 8 P. Cleall
16 Field 17 Gondwe 18 Rose 19 McMillan 20 Kasolo 21 Infante 22 Bridger 23 Clapp (co-captain)
Bristol Bears
15 Lovibond 14 Bonner 13 Murray 12 Aitchison 11 Wills 10 Reed (co-captain) 9 Bevan 1 Pam 2 Atkin-Davies 3 Botterman 4 Burns 5 Ward (co-captain) 6 Joyce-Butchers 7 Gallagher 8 R. Marston-Mulhearn
16 Sprague 17 Phillips 18 E. Marston-Mulhearn 19 Cunningham 20 Nigrelli 21 Burgess 22 M. Smith 23 Keight
One afterthought
Do Sarries now regret seeing Hannah Botterman and Holly Aitchison leaving for Bristol? Put it another way: who would Alex Austerberry have played at No 10 all season if Aitchison had been available? It’s a wry thought that she played 12 for Bears, Amber Reed given the pivotal job at 10.
