Source: PWR

Your Friday Feast – Quins v Bears

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.

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Source: Exeter Chiefs

PWR – Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears

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

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Source: Andy Watts/Bristol Bears

Rugby moves into a new era

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

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Source: PWR

The above have arrived

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

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Source: PWR

Glaws triumph a second time

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

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Two Semi-Finals

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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Source: Worcester Valkyries

Trailfinders v Bristol Bears

Trailfinders started so well. They worked their way gradually into the Bears’ 22, won a line- out and saw Cristina Blanco take a return pass to slip round the front for an easy try. The rest of the game was to prove more of a trial. On 18 minutes Bears had a penalty six metres

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PWR – Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury

The fixture schedule was different this week: for the first time it spread across three days, with Bears taking on Gloucester-Hartpury at 19.30 on Friday evening. And sure enough, it was freezing cold. Whose bright idea was this? That helps to explain the lack of scoring, just a try in each half for Gloucester-Hartpury. The

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Source: Ryan Hiscott/JMP

Chiefs v Bears – PWR – Round Two

You would not have wanted to be part of the Bristol management team watching on. As the game unfolded, the Bears were guilty of error upon error that cost them possession and territory. It was as if the Sandy Park bogey had its beady eye on them. Gabriella Nigrelli, another of England’s young Under 20s

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