Bristol face Exeter showdown after reaching play-offs

BRISTOL Bears Women secured their place in the Allianz Premier 15s play-offs despite slipping to a 43-26 defeat at the hands of Harlequins in front of a record-breaking crowd at Ashton Gate.

Manon Johnes touched down late on to secure the bonus point they needed to seal a top-four finish, but a hat-trick from Quins’ Amy Cokayne and further scores from Ellie Kildunne, Heather Cowell, Shaunaugh Brown and Jess Breach completed a commanding win for the visitors.

Sarah Bern, Delaney Burns and Jasmine Joyce ensured the Bears wouldn’t leave empty-handed, but it wasn’t to be for Dave Ward’s side in front of 4,101 supporters in BS3.

A strong opening half for the Bears saw them make the headway with Amber Reed slicing her way through Harlequins defence, but a turnover on the 22 stopped hopes of scoring.

Harlequins answered back making the break out wide and an inside pass from Jess Breach to Kildunne put the full-back away for the opening try.

Jasmine Joyce marked her return to a Bears shirt with a blitzing run out wide but was cut short to deny the wing any points.

Harlequins extended their lead after an attack in the Bears 22 led to a try from Cokayne.

But the Bears answered back quickly. A powerful driving maul from the pack sent Bern over for the try. Reed kicked the conversion.

Cokayne went over for a double on the half-hour to keep the board ticking over for the visitors.

Harlequins bagged the bonus just before half-time with a try out wide from Cowell. The conversion missed, as Quins led 22-7 at the break.

Bristol struggled in the opening stages of the second half, with Brown crashing over the line for the visitors. But the hosts dug in deep and a dive over the line from Burns put the Bears into double figures.

Joyce then took an offload from Kayleigh Powell to race over the line for the try.

Reed booted the extras to bring reduce the deficit to 29-19.

But Harlequins turned it up a gear and Breach crossed for a try following a race clear down the touchline. The conversion was added to make it 36-19.

The Bears threw everything they could at Quins and Johnes went over for the bonus-point try to secure a play-off place.

Quins finished the game with the final say, with Cokayne crossing the line to complete a hat-trick of tries.

Bristol Bears Women will now visit Exeter Chiefs Women in the play-off semi-final at Sandy Park this Saturday (2pm).