Report: Bristol Bears Women 17-34 DMP Sharks

What Happened? 

The Bears started the brighter of the two side as they came out of the blocks seeming to fire on all cylinders. Lily Stoeger-Goddard’s arcing run saw the Bears go close as they advanced deep into Sharks’ territory inside the opening five minutes.  

The home side would go on to force a penalty and kick to the corner, which saw skipper Clara Nielson dot down off the back of a strong rolling maul.

DMP responded with a penalty goal from fly-half Elizabeth Blacklock, before the Bears bagged their second of the afternoon through Kyara Martin.

The hosts were camped in the DMP twenty-two for a sustained period before Lauren Smyth fizzed a long bounce pass into the arms of Martin, who powered through a double tackle to cross in the corner.

Soon after, DMP Sharks would have their first try of the afternoon as Rosie Blount finished a swift counter attack to bring the visitors within two points. Buoyed by their first score, they would have two more prior to the half-time whistle.

Blacklock scored the first as she bundled over under the sticks and Amy Layzell would have the second, capitalising on poor handling from the Bears in their twenty-two to see DMP take a 24-12 lead heading into the sheds.

Bears Women picked up the tempo following the half-time break and looked to have edged their way back into the game when Rownita Marston powered over in the wide channel.

An audacious basketball-style offload from tighthead prop, Ellie Mulhearn gave Marston the opportunity to finish in the corner and bring the Bears within one score.

However, the visitors wasted no time with their response as scrum-half Georgia Roberts slid over the chalk within minutes of Marston’s score.

A late penalty from the boot of Blacklock quashed any hope of a fightback from the Bears as they fell to defeat in their last home game of the season.

Teams and Scorers:

Bristol Bears Women: 15. Lauren Smyth, 14. Kyara Martin, 13. Phoebe Murray, 12. Chelsea Jones, 11. Lily Stoeger-Goddard, 10. Lucie Skuse, 9. Serena Settembri; 1. Holly Phillips, 2. Clara Nielson, 3. Ellie Mulhearn, 4. Megan Barwick. 5. Delaney Burns, 6. Alice Lockwood, 7. Jenny Herring, 8. Rownita Marston

Impact Players: 16. Abbie Parsons, 17. Stef Evans, 18. Megan Wynne, 19. Issy Eyres, 20. Lucy Burgess, 21. Gemma Rowland, 22. Ella Lovibond, 23. Grace Crompton

Scorers: Nielson (TRY – 5’), Martin (TRY – 14’), Marston (TRY – 48’), Smyth (CON – 5’)

DMP Sharks: 15. Evie Tonkin, 14. Rosie Blount, 13. Amy Layzell, 12. Linzi Taylor, 11. Lauren Torley, 10. Elizabeth Blacklock, 9. Georgina Roberts; 1. Caitlin Simpson, 2. Zoe Teece, 3. Samantha Herrick, 4. Jasmine Hazell, 5. Jessica Wiesheu, 6. Tiana Gordon, 7. Malle Picut, 8. Tilly Churm

Replacements: 16. Alana Bainbridge, 17. Emily Hunter, 18. Brogan Churm, 19. Lauran Hart, 20. Jessica Cooksey, 21. Chloe Broom, 22. Mackenzie Thomas, 23. Holly Thorpe

Scorers: Blacklock (PEN – 10’, 63’) (TRY – 32’) (CON – 24’, 32’, 50’) , Blount (TRY – 24’), Amy Layzell (TRY – 34’), Roberts (TRY – 50’)