REPORT: Saracens Women 29-43 Bristol Ladies

Monday, January 23rd 2017

Bristol Ladies secure a bonus point victory against Saracens to confirm their place at the top of the Women's Premiership.

Four first half-tries for the Westcountry side courtesy of England internationals Marlie Packer (Jones Building) and Amy Wilson Hardy (Massey Cladding) and two after the break for Poppy Cleall (School of Dance) and Izzy Noel Smith (Prior Park School) was enough to give them the win.

Saracens' Garnet Mackinder bagged two of her own in the first forty and one in the second, along with Emma Uren and Bryony Cleall in a late fightback from the home side.

Bristol Ladies opened their account after just three minutes as Marlie Packer muscled her way over from close range to give the visitors an early lead.

Saracens were punished after a series of handling errors when Amy Wilson Hardy sliced through for Bristol’s second.

It was Amy Wilson Hardy again who pounced on a loose ball to score. The visitors struck again five minutes later, Marlie Packer capitalising on another Saracens error.

Saracens responded before the break as the ball was shipped quickly wide with Mackinder on the end to score.

Saracens flanker Becky Roby was shown yellow for an infringement at the breakdown reducing the home side to fourteen just before the half-time break.

The home side started the second-half brightly applying pressure and forcing multiple penalties as they stretched the Bristol defence with winger Emma Uren crossing the whitewash.

The visitors responded as Poppy Cleall scored against her former club, followed a few minutes later by England team mate Izzy Noel Smith on the end of a driving maul.

The game ended with a disappointing score from Saracens' Mackinder who notched up her hat trick in the final minutes but it was still a convincing bonus point victory which confirms Bristol's top of the Women's Premiership place.

The side now switch their focus to the National Cup during the Six Nations period, with the final league match scheduled for the Sunday, March 26th.

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