Gloucester-Hartpury dismantle Saracens to claim PWR three-peat

Sometimes finals can be torrid, tense affairs without much to get your teeth stuck into. This final however, did not lack for points on the board, ferocious defence or scintillating tries- nine of them altogether.

With Red Roses head coach John Mitchell watching on, two sides packed with international talent left nothing on the pitch for the last time this season.

Ultimately, despite a strong first half performance from Saracens, Gloucester provided the composure and class they have become known for, sending new Wales head coach Sean Lynn into his first Six Nations championship with a piece of history- leading the first Premiership Women's Rugby side to three league titles on the bounce.

In the first five mins at the StoneX Stadium, Gloucester kept the ‘home’ supporters quiet by getting on the score board early. Winger Mia Venner who had a stand out performance, ran a great line, and with a perfectly timed inside pass, Kate Williams scored for the Cherry and Whites, with the conversion from Emma Sing missed.

However, the silencing of the crowd didn’t last long. Barely two minutes later, another beautiful inside pass from Poppy Cleall found fellow England team mate Jess Breach on a fantastic line, who ran from 30 metres out to score, with a successful conversion from Zoe Harrison to claim the lead.

And this was the beginning of a purple patch for the women in black. The pressure they were putting on the Cherry and Whites began to show as a pass to floor from fly-half Lleucu George in the middle of the field was claimed by Sarries and resulted in a penalty to them.

Harrison kicked to the right hand corner, which saw a lineout driving maul, and a penalty try awarded as Natasha Hunt was given ten minutes in the bin.

And with the beating heart of their opposition sat on the side lines, Saracens took advantage. Lock Rosie Galligan made good metres, alongside Marlie Packer who forged forward with ball in hand and with a hand off to the face of Wales captain Hannah Jones, the ball was worked to the other side of the pitch, and with Gloucester’s defence in sixes and sevens, Breach passed to Lotte Sharp on the left wing and the American international touched down, giving Saracens an unexpected 14 point advantage with only a quarter of the game played.

However, a mark of a champion side is one who thrives in adversity and after a knock on and high tackle from Saracens, Gloucester received a penalty and a precision kick from George earned territory in the opposing 22. With Venner acting as scrum-half, she found Hannah Jones in space, who sailed a pass out wide to Sing who went over in the corner. Despite the conversion being missed, the gap was closing.

With Hunt back on, Gloucester’s forwards did the talking, until the ball once again found Venner on the right wing, who stepped two defenders to dot down. If someone is putting their hand up for an England starting position this Six Nations, it’s Venner.

Again, the conversion missed, but only four points separated the teams going into half-time at 15-19. Despite the slim lead it was obvious Gloucester-Hartpury were rattled by the ferocity Saracens had brought from minute one to 40.

The second half started in the same manner for Gloucester-Hartpury with an early score after Zoe Aldcroft found player of the match Maud Muir who raced through from ten metres out unopposed to go in under the posts. The conversion saw Gloucester go 22-19 ahead, taking the lead for the first time since the seventh minute.

And there was more to come from the West Country team as the ball was worked up the pitch and a five metre lineout saw Gloucester rumble over with hooker Neve Jones claiming the five points and extending their lead to 27-19.

However, with Saracens defending their own line Alex Matthews was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Cleall in the 52nd minute, leaving her side a woman down for the second time in the match.

Despite the player advantage, Saracens were not able to capitalise and Gloucester continued to show why there are double reigning champions, managing the spell with composure, continuing to knock on Saracens’ try line.

Eventually the break through came when Hunt dotted down from the base of a ruck after going through the phases and Gloucester-Hartpury were able to build off a dominant scrum platform.

Despite a few clean breaks down the wings for Saracens, they didn't look as much of a threat in the second half and were unable to add to the scoreline in their favour. At this point it was all Gloucester, flying high at 34-19.

In final ten minutes the match became more stop start as replacements were made and the game lost its sting, with Gloucester fans preparing to see their team lift the trophy for the third time in a row.

And that they did in front of  7,848 fans, with departing head coach Sean Lynn and retiring club legend Kathryn Buggy ending their Gloucester-Hartpury careers on a high.