Stoic defence is key in win for Gloucester-hartpury

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY made it two wins in a row in the 2023/24 Allianz PWR season with a hardfought 12-0 win over Bristol Bears.

They hit the front almost immediately after the kick-off. After an early period of attacking pressure, lock Sarah Beckett rode a couple of tackles to dot down.

The majority of the first-half, was spent defending, but the closest Bristol came was when Row Marston-mulhearn hit a line off a wonderfully timed short-ball from Holly Aitchison, but Lleucu George scythed the backrower down just short of the line.

Just before the break. Bristol had a massive overlap on the right but a long, looping pass was intercepted by Emma Sing.

Just shy of the hour mark, Gloucester-hartpury got their second try through Sing, after she got on the end of a floated pass from George to finish well in the corner.

Gloucester-hartpury spent the remaining 30 minutes defending, their efforts were even more impressive as they had Kelsey Jones sent to the bin, leaving them to face Bristol’s onslaught with 14 players, but they defended stoically and came away with four points.

Cheltenham II went down 31-14 to Ivybridge in Women’s Championship South West 2, after twice leading the game early on.

Amelia Lavallee’s try, coverted by Izzie Mackinder, put them 7-0 up, and after Ivybridge levelled, Jordan Russell’s try and Mackinder’s extras made it 14-7, but Ivybridge hit back to take the win.

Dursley beat Hucclecote 17-5 in Women’s NC 2 South West (North), skipper Julianne Thomson with two tries, Lauren Seaward getting the other and Vicky Mansell adding a conversion, with Hucclecote’s try from Paige Allen. Tewkesbury went down 33-5 to Greyhound.

Cheltenham North and Cheltenham Civil Service drew 15-15 in Women’s NC 3 South West (North), Service scoring a last-minute try.

North’s tries came from Apo Cahierre, Molly Mcevoy and Parys Gibbons, with Bethany Price and Leeanne Huxley crossing for Service, Amber Coxhill kicking a penalty and a conversion.

Fairford lost 33-0 to leaders Kidderminster Carolians.