Saracens quality shines out

Saracens ....... 45 Gloucester-Hartpury .... 26

SARACENS made light work of Gloucester-Hartpury to book their place in the final.

With a 62-0 deficit to try and overcome, Gloucester-Hartpury came out the blocks firing Rachel Lund stepping through the Sarries defence to open the scoring, with Garnet Mackinder’s last ditch high tackle resulting in a yellow card for the winger.

But Saracens hit back through Bryony Cleall as Saracens got their driving maul into play and the flanker appeared from the pile of bodies.

Helena Rowland followed that up three minutes later following a storming break from England international Marlie Packer.

Poppy Cleall then punctured the Gloucester defence and prop Hannah Botterman was on hand to finish under the sticks.

Gloucester were rewarded for their effort as Sarries got caught short out wide for MaryAnn Gitttings to go over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 19-14 at half time.

Rob Cain’s side rallied early in the second half notching a fourth try from Garnet Mackinder and another for Packer off the back of a surging maul.

Clapp added to the scoreboard after charging down Kildunne’s kick coupled with Rowland’s conversion to extend the lead to 38-14.

Replacement Cara Wardle was shown yellow for a knock down and Gloucester took immediate advantage of the extra player as replacement Sophie Tandy dotted down to reduce the deficit.

Helena Rowland went over for her second with five minutes remaining and Gloucester snuck in for a late consolation try but the game was already won.

Head coach Cain said: “We are so delighted to have made the inaugural final after all the hard work which has happened this season.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge with having such a solid buffer from the first round and full credit to Gloucester – they threw everything at us for the full 80.”