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Third time's a charm: Where the PWR Final was won and lost
By Matt Merritt at StoneX Stadium, London
Gloucester-Hartpury ran out 34-19 winners over Saracens to celebrate their third consecutive PWR final win. While the first half was a close affair that saw Saracens return to their dressing room ahead by four points, a relentless second half effort from Sean Lynn’s cherry and whites saw them handed the trophy once again.
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We break down where the game was won and lost.
Front row
Honours were even at scrum time, with both teams holding their own. May Campbell’s lineout throws gave Saracens the edge in the set piece and plenty of opportunities to deploy their rolling maul, including one effort that lead to a penalty try in the first half.
However, Maud Muir and Neve Jones were both among the scorers for Gloucester-Hartpury and Muir in particular excelled, making crucial metres post-contact and a sizzling clean break for an important score in the second half, earning herself a well deserved player of the match award.
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Advantage – Gloucester-Hartpury
Locks
Both teams’ engine rooms quietly and competently went about their work, in the midst of everything defensively. Rosie Galligan provided Saracens with some extra menace at the line out, consistently pressuring the Gloucester jumpers. In the cherry and white second row Zoe Aldcroft was her usual classy self, with a number of interceptions, hard hits and some effective running lines, particularly late in the first half.
Advantage – Gloucester-Hartpury
Back row
Two very different approaches from the two teams here. Saracens deployed their back row like a battering ram. Poppy Cleall and Marlie Packer relentlessly carrying into bodies while Gabrielle Senft cleared up any loose balls.
Gloucester-Hartpury’s loose forwards were deployed much more surgically. Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis and especially Alex Matthews were ruthlessly efficient in defence and all popped up in attack too, with Williams opening the scoring and Matthews having a try disallowed.
Where Saracens seemed to slow down as the game went on, Gloucester-Hartpury’s back row found new reserves of energy to keep pushing forward.
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Advantage – Gloucester-Hartpury
Half backs
It’s telling that Gloucester’s worst 10 minutes of play coincided with Natasha Hunt’s yellow card. Hunt has dominated the last three finals with her eye for a break and her relentless ability to rally her teammates.
Scrum-half Ella Wyrwas had a quiet game and Zoe Harrison kept Saracens ticking over without ever really providing any edge, making a few mistakes from the boot. Lleucu George was her usual energetic self for the victors, popping up with some key kicks to find space and territory for her backs to exploit.
Advantage – Gloucester-Hartpury
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Centres
Tatyana Heard is always a ferocious competitor and once again took no prisoners in the tackle, we did see her give a wayward pass when Gloucester were trying to find points in the last play of the first half, which allowed Saracens to go into the break ahead.
Sophie Bridger and Emma Hardy combined for a defensively sound midfield for Saracens but were stifled by their opposition in attack.
Advantage – Even
Wingers
It wasn’t a vintage game for the wingers, but Lotte Sharp scored a solid try for Saracens and Alysha Corrigan was a constant menace with ball in hand using her pace to frighten defenders.
Mia Venner was on excellent form for Gloucester, making a deceiving amount of post-contact metres for her small frame and cooly side stepped Jess Breach to score a try in the corner. Pip Hendy on the other wing had a comparatively quiet game.
Advantage – Saracens
Full Back
Jess Breach scored a lovely try for Saracens early on but was found wanting with her decision making as the last line of defence. She almost made a costly mistake by attempting to keep a Gloucester-Hartpury kick infield which led to a try, but this was later disallowed.
Emma Sing might have had a mediocre day in terms of her kicking from the tee, but she was everywhere for her team and very solid under high ball. She scored a try, tackled hard and made breaks time and time again.
Advantage – Gloucester-Hartpury
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