Report: Bristol Bears Women 36-17 Wasps Women

Alisha Butchers and Hannah West also touched down for the league leaders at a bouncing Shaftesbury Park, as the Bears overcame a 39^th-minute yellow card for Abbie Ward to cut loose after the break and maintain their 100% league record.

Dave Ward’s side flew out of the blocks at Shaftesbury Park as Alisha Butchers ghosted in from 40 metres inside the first five minutes.

Flo Williams landed a penalty to get Wasps on the board, but a turnover at the lineout gifted the Bears another attacking platform, allowing some slick handling to send Keight over for her first.

Phoebe Murray’s surging break and deft offload sent Powell cannoning through a tackle and over the line for try number three, before the visitors launched their fightback. A powerful driving lineout earned a penalty try and saw co-captain Abbie Ward sent to the sin-bin – and from here, Wasps rallied, with Maud Muir closing the gap to two points early in the second period.

BEAUTY 😎@KayleighPowel #BRIvWAS | #BristolBearsWomen

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— Bristol Bears Women (@BristolBearsW) November 28, 2021

But three minutes later, the Bears were back in charge, as Hannah West raced on to another overthrown lineout to cross for her eighth try of the season and seal the bonus point.

Ward’s side were now back in the mood and from the restart, Murray and Hesketh combined to send Powell over for her second – and with time ticking away, replacement and debutant Leanne Infante’s quickly taken penalty created space on the outside, leaving Powell to gift Keight the simplest of scores to cap another commanding win for the Bears.

Giving it the Alan Shearer cele. 🙋‍♀️

Hannah West 😂#BRIvWAS | #BristolBearsWomen

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— Bristol Bears Women (@BristolBearsW) November 28, 2021

Bristol Bears: Tries: Butchers 4, Keight 10, 66, Powell 23, 58, West 54. Cons: Reed 4, 23, 54. Yellow: Ward 39

Wasps Women: Tries: Penalty 39, Muir 51. Cons: Williams 51. Pens: Williams 8

Bristol Bears: Powell; Hesketh, Murray, Reed (co-capt), Keight; Snowsill, Bevan; Kill, West, Bern, Cunningham, Ward (co-capt), Butchers, Johnes, Marston.

System players: Lockwood, Phillips, Mulhearn, John, Herring, Infante, Skuse, Lovibond.

💬 “We couldn’t be happier to be walking away with five points.”@Dave_Ward2 reflects on sixth successive victory. 🗣 pic.twitter.com/vMYoxjCwDw

— Bristol Bears Women (@BristolBearsW) November 28, 2021

💬 “I couldn’t ask for much more really.”@KayleighPowel was superb in her return to action in a Bears shirt. pic.twitter.com/T4p2UkAGAk

— Bristol Bears Women (@BristolBearsW) November 28, 2021