Loughborough Lightning have selected a starting line-up with an average of just 21 for the trip to Bristol Bears this weekend, with four changes made to the XV and two players set to make their debuts as replacements. Following the Scotland call-up of Christine Belisle to become the 15th Lightning player participating in the 2025
PWR Semi-final 6,000 people were on hand to witness an enthralling game. Bears spent the early minutes building momentum, but couldn’t yet find penetration. Holly Aitchison sent an uncharacteristic pass straight into touch. This wasn’t to prove one of her better games, her place-kicking alone making a poor contrast with Emma Sing’s. G-H were penalised
Drama and disappointment in equal measure A match of the highest quality has left both sides feeling they squandered the prize they sought. Bristol Bears achieved a momentous away win, but failed to secure an essential bonus point. Quins suffered an unwelcome home defeat, to leave them with an away tie against Sarries who demolished
This is one of the bigger match-ups the PWR has known. Not only are you getting another chance to see Iona Maher up close and personal, but here is one club desperate to make the semi-finals, the other desperate to ensure a home-tie. 6,000 tickets have already been purchased, but there’s still room for latecomers.
Another clash between top-five clubs, this time the two that were most desperate for wins. Chiefs were no longer running clear at the top of the league; Bears knew they couldn’t afford any more hiccups. It was fourth versus fifth. The Maher-effect touched Sandy Park: “Please ensure you arrive in good time. A larger crowd
Breaking news: Bristol Bears are switching their derby game against Gloucester-Hartpury to the football ground, Ashton Gate, owing to “unprecendented demand”. And this, despite the fact that head coach, Dave Ward, had given a strong hint that their new signing, Ilona Maher, would be unlikely to feature for a while. She’d need time to grow
Ilona Maher has signed a short-term contract with Bristol Bears. This news is no sort of shock, but it introduces all manner of reactions. Here’s a conversation I overheard on a Bristol bus: Q. Why does the PWR allow players to join clubs that don’t need strengthening? Bears are the best, the strongest club in
Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury – PWR Final, Sandy Park, Exeter Another enthralling final that divided sharply into two pieces. Bears showed their colours at once, running the ball out to the wing with deep passes, then back the other way. But a last loose offering showed the risks of that approach to life. It was
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 four strongest clubs in the country meet this weekend to decide who will compete for the trophy a fortnight later. The fixtures, both on Sunday 9 June, line up like this: Saracens v Bristol Bears, StoneX Stadium, KO 14.00 BST Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs, Kingsholm, KO 16.30 BST The four squads have been announced:
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