Women’s rugby Super Saints go marching on towards the title
ST Mary’s Ladies consolidated their position at the top of South West One with a 36-0 victory over Yeovil Ladies at Northwood Park.
Saints are yet to taste defeat this season and moved ten points clear of nearest rivals Newton Abbot following the six-try win, in which Michaela Excell was outstanding.
Full-back Chloe Tucker led the way with a brace of tries, while Ellie Clarke, Boe Meaton, Victoria Shakspeare and Jade Gamlin, who added three conversions, also crossed the whitewash for Saints.
Chew Valley Cats, meanwhile, returned to winning ways thanks to a 32-5 win over North Petherton Ladies at Lobbingtons Lane.
A yellow card shown to Pethy scrum-half Kelly Palmer saw the Cats score two quickfire tries to exploit their numerical advantage. No 8 Hannah Pearce opened the scoring for the Cats, before her opposite number Sarah Cavil responded to level the scores.
But that would prove to be the visitors’ only score of the match as the Cats took over.
Fiona Penfold dotted down for a double, with Charlotte Hynam, Rachael Branch and Annie Heredi also scoring tries for third-placed Cats.
North Bristol Ladies finished their game against Hornettes Ladies with nine players. The Almondsbury-based outfit travelled with a bare 15, but suffered six injuries in this physically demanding fixture.
Elouise Linton crossed for a try double, with skipper Kirsty Horner and Ice Asare adding five-pointers. Tara Prudhoe kicked three conversions during the 36-26 defeat at The Nest. Gordano Ladies came out on top of a high-scoring game with Old Bristolians Ladies, eventually running out 40-36 winners at Caswell Lane.
Westbury Ladies were comfortable 38-7 winners over Thornbury Ladies.
Bristol Bears Women suffered their fourth straight Tyrrells Premier 15s defeat, going down 53-7 at Gloucester Hartpury Ladies.
Kim Oliver’s side inflicted a 43-5 defeat on their West Country rivals at Ashton Gate in September, but any chance of a repeat performance quickly evaporated as the home side exacted revenge.
Full-back Merryn Doidge crossed for the Bears’ solitary try, while Lucy Attwood added the conversion.
It was a similar story for Bristol Bears Women United, who were also humbled 46-7 by Hartpury in the Tyrrells Premier 15s Development League fixture.