The Bears proudly brought their unbeaten record with them to the StoneX Stadium and put up a great fight in one of the games of the season. Their strong Welsh contingent played a key role in keeping the game so tight, but in the end they had to be content with a losing bonus-point.
It means Saracens now lead the league by two points thanks to their magnificent seven wins on the bounce, but there are still 11 games to be played before the knock-out phase.
“We started slowly and it seems that we only get into our stride after the opposition has hurt us. That’s something we’ve got to sort out,” said Sarries and Wales hooker, Kat Evans.
“We knew they could cause us trouble if they got the ball into the wide open space and so we just held onto the ball and kept things tight. It was a good win in the end.”
Bristol had Elinor Snowsill pulling the strings for them at No 10 and had the constant threat of Courtney Keight out on the wing. But the pick of their Welsh contingent was back row ace Alisha Butchers.
Her work in tandem with fellow flanker Manon Johnes, and then with Welsh captain Siwan Lillicrap when she came on at No 8 in the second half, always kept the Bears in the hunt. It was a break out of her 22 by Butchers, expertly put into a gap by Snowsill, that paved the way for a try by full back Ella Lovibond that brought Bristol racing back into the contest.
In the end, though, the power of the Saracens pack proved too strong and a kick and chase try from scrum half Ella Wyrass got them over the line. Next up for the league leaders are Harlequins at the StoneX on Sunday in a re-match of last season’s final.
The Quins, the reigning champions, warmed-up for their showdown with Saracens with a 69-7 home win over DMP Durham Sharks. They are currently in third, nine points behind the leaders.
Wales wing Lisa Neumann was a try scorer for Sale Sharks in their 22-8 defeat at Wasps. The visitors lost Leah Lyons to a red card early on and struggled with only 14 players.
Bethan Lewis scored one of Gloucester-Hartpury’s tries in their home clash with Loughborough Lightning, but it wasn’t enough to stop her side from falling to another agonisingly close defeat. Having been pipped at the death by Wasps the previous weekend, 24-21, they went down 33-31 this time.
Add in close shaves at home against Harlequins (21-18) and Bristol Bears (24-17) and there is plenty to feel excited about at Gloucester. Now they have to find a way to turn the close games into victories.
