G-H demolished Bristol Bears at a sunlit Ashton Gate to confirm their position as the only likely winners of this season’s trophy.
Scott Lawson, Bears’ head coach, may be wondering whether he might not have allowed Ruahei Demant, his big new signing; to start at No 10. He allowed her to settle in at 12, but it was soon evident that her side desperately needed her in a key position to gain some control.
G-H went straight on the attack, winning penalties and territory that allowed Sam Monaghan to score their first try.
Led by Mo Hunt, the violet shirts exploited every opposition error, and sadly, they came aplenty.
The visitors’ interplay was full of confidence and ingenuity. The pack had the upper hand in the tight, though they suffered an early loss when Georgia Brock, placed experimentally at No 8, took a nasty blow to the face.
Who shall we have instead? Ah, the England captain, drowsing happily on the bench. So Zoe Stratford wasn’t allowed the shorter spell of action she had expected. She wasn’t drowsy on the field.
She helped Monaghan pick off inaccurate line-out throws from Amy Dale, and the score mounted.
Some of G-H’s tries were jewels, the result of perfectly timed pop-passes and off-loads. By contrast Nel Metcalfe’s try was one of those end-to-end efforts that gain thousands of video clip replays.
By half-time the Violets were out of sight, the fifth bonus point out of five: 0-35.
In the second half Bears’ good news came in the form of two tries. But even then, the first, by Evie Gallagher, needed confirmation by the TMO (yes, this game was televised) to confirm a clean grounding. By that stage G-H already had 42 points on the board.
There was excitement as two young wingers, Mia Venner and Reneeka Bonner, both had stabs at the line. But it took Bears an age to get the ball into Millie David’s hands, and she was hauled down.
Hannah Botterman made her first appearance of the season on 50 minutes; her absence till now helps to explain Bears’ plight.
But not even she could halt the flow. And Emma Sing’s uncanny ability with the boot only added to the damage. Her first failed conversion came with the eighth try.
Bears did manage a second final try before the close. A ruck was left unguarded, and Lucie Skuse found her way through to the line.
Small comfort.
Result: Bristol Bears 14 Gloucester-Hartpury 54
Player of the Match: Emma Sing
Afterthoughts
All over, bar the shouting. Who can possibly beat Gloucester-Hartpury in their current form? Saracens are improving, and they know all about winning pots, but I still doubt their chances.
Bristol are suffering badly from injuries. Among the absentees are Lark Atkin-Davies, Phoebe Murray and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn. It will take a lot even for a full-strength side to retrieve a top-4 position. They currently lie eighth out of nine.
There are three rounds left before the Christmas break.
SingI wonder what our troupe of Black Ferns made on the weekend’s events.
Only four Wasps players on show in Bristol today.
