Bristol Bears beat Exeter Chiefs to maintain PWR play-off hopes

Lark Atkin-Davies ran in a hat-trick as Bristol Bears kept their Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) semi-final hopes alive with a 45-17 victory against Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate.

Bears needed to win the rearranged match, and they did so in style, while Trailfinders Women triumphed in the other game of the weekend, beating Sale Sharks 33-20 at CorpAcq Stadium.

Bristol started the weekend in fifth, one place behind their visitors, but took the lead within five minutes through Keira Bevan and although Hope Rogers burrowed over shortly afterwards, they didn’t look back.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Ilona Maher, playing her last home match for Bears, crossed in the 22nd minute before Atkin-Davies struck twice before the break.

Maher grabbed her second try early in the second half, before Atkin-Davies completed her hat-trick and Abbie Ward touched down a seventh for the hosts.

Second-half tries from Flo Robinson and Georgina Tasker left Chiefs chasing a bonus point until the final whistle, but ultimately Bristol held them out to ensure their West Country rivals returned home pointless.

“I’m so impressed and I’m so proud of the girls,” Player of the Match Sarah Bern said.

“There’s obviously been a lot of talk, we need to kick more, we need to change our game plan but actually when we get it right we can put in performances like that.

Fixture

PWR

Bristol Bears Women

45 - 17

Full-time

Exeter Chiefs Women

All Stats and Data

“Unfortunately, we’ve done it in bits and pieces this season, but this was the first day when we managed to get it right for most of the game.

“I’m just so proud that everyone’s stuck in, everyone’s worked so hard and we managed to get that score today.”

Victory lifted Bristol above Exeter and into fourth with two rounds to play but Bears only have one regular season game left, against high-flying Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop on Friday.

Chiefs will travel to Saracens and Leicester Tigers over the next two weekends, meaning Bears will make the trip to south-west London knowing they need another result to give themselves a shot at reaching the last four.

Amber Reed added: “We know it’s not going to be easy next week as well. Quins have been flying, playing really well and it’s a Friday night, so again a different picture for us but we just need to build on [this] performance.”

In the only other match of the weekend, Canada international Julia Schell scored two of Trailfinders’ five tries to condemn Sale to a 13th defeat of the season.

Kate Zackary, Grace White and Abi Burton also crossed for the visitors at CorpAcq Stadium. The hosts’ tries were scored by Olivia Ortiz, Scarlett Fielding and Erica Jarrell.