PWR: Trailfinders 41-36 Gloucester-Hartpury - Champions defeated as Londoners make top four

This epic encounter witnessed two yellow cards for the reigning champions and a total of 12 tries with each team scoring six. Trailfinders now join the Gloucester-Hartpury, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs in the PWR playoffs places.

Both Trailfinders and Gloucester Hartpury started well, however it was the home side who struck first, with hooker Georgia Ponsonby guiding the ball over the line off the back of a driving maul, before Niamh Gallagher successfully converted the try, as Trailfinders took a seven-point lead just four minutes in.

The current three-time PWR champions responded quickly with Emma Sing opening the scoring for the visitors, however the try-scorer was unable to draw the scores level with a missed conversion. The home side headed on the attack again, however the Gloucester-Hartpury defence stood strong with Trailfinders unable to find a way over the line. It didn't take long for Gloucester-Hartpury to turn that defence into attack.

A well-placed kick by Emma Sing saw the visiting side earn back possession and field position, the power of the Gloucester-Hartpury pack powered over the line. Kelsey Jones grounded the ball and gave the visitors the lead for the first time.

Gloucester-Hartpury then increased their lead to eight points, with Mia Venner whizzing from their own 22 down the wing and scoring the visiting side’s third try of the game. Trailfinders looked to respond quickly, however the Gloucester-Hartpury defence remained strong, the home side were once again denied from scoring.

With the home side on the attack, Gloucester-Hartpury are forced into an early change, with Molly Bunker replacing an injured Jade Shekells. With play resuming after the substitution, Trailfinders finally got their second try of the game with prop Alivia Leatherman finding the try line and closing the points deficit to just three. Trailfinders finished the half strong, retaking the lead with England international Haidee Head scoring the try off the back of a driving maul.

Trailfinders fire out the blocks for the second half, with a great run and try from scrum half Ella Amory. However, Gloucester-Hartpury responded quickly with Welsh international Bethan Lewis flying over the try line, before Sing added the extras. The home side’s lead closes to just two points.

A beautiful 50-22 from Niamh Gallagher gave Trailfinders possession and field position. With Trailfinders on the attack, Gloucester-Hartpury went down to 14 players with Abigail Pritchard brandished a yellow card. The home side added another a try to their tally, with former Team GB Olympic Sevens star Emma Uren getting herself a try and with Rosie Inman adding the extras.

Things then went from bad to worse for Gloucester-Hartpury, with them going down to 13 as Hannah Dallavalle received a yellow card for an unnecessary hair pull on an opposition player. With two players in the sin-bin for the visitors, Trailfinders took advantage and extended their lead further with Carys Cox scoring for the home side.

With Abigail Pritchard back on the pitch, Gloucester-Hartpury finally started to close the deficit, with Bethan Lewis scoring her second try of the game. Trailfinders kept their lead ticking over with a successful penalty from Rosie Inman. With Gloucester-Hartpury running out of time, Neve Jones bagged a try from the back of a driving maul, to close the gap to nine points.

In the dying moments of the game, a try from Abigail Pritchard and a successful conversion brought the game within just two points, however the damage had already been done as Trailfinders secured the win.

Tries: Ponsonby (3’) Leatherman (33’) Head (40’+3) Amory (40’) Uren (52’) Cox (59’)

Conversions: Gallagher (4’ 41’) Inman (53’ 60’)

Penalties: Inman (68’)

Starting XV: 1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Maya Montiel, 4 Alana Borland, 5 Emma Wassell, 6 Haidee Head, 7 Kate Zackary (c), 8 Abi Burton, 9 Ella Amory , 10 Claire Gallagher , 11 Grace White, 12 Emma Uren, 13 Meg Jones, 14 Carys Cox, 15 Niamh Gallagher.

Replacements: 16 Cristina Blanco, 17 Annabel Meta, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Sally Williams, 21 Isla Norman-Bell, 22 Vicky Laflin, 23 Rosie Inman

Tries: Sing (8’) Jones (17’) Venner (21’) Lewis (44’ 62’) Pritchard (80’)

Conversions: Sing (44’ 81’)

Yellow Cards: Pritchard (51’) Dallavalle (54’)

Starting XV: 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sam Monaghan, 5 Sarah Beckett, 6 Steph Else, 7 Beth Lewis, 8 Georgia Brock, 9 Bianca Blackburn, 10 Lleucu George, 11 Abigail Pritchard, 12 Jade Shekells, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 14 Mia Venner, 15 Emma Sing

Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Niamh O’Dowd, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Alaw Pyrs, 20 Tabitha Copson, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Ellie Green, 23 Molly Bunker

Gloucester Hartpury centre who just made her return from an injury was forced to come off in the 32^nd minute after picking up a leg injury in a tackle. She was replaced by Molly Bunker.

Gloucester Hartpury went down to 13 players after Abigail Pritchard received a yellow card after Gloucester Hartpury’s discipline became sloppy in the red zone. This was then followed quickly by Hannah Dallavalle recieving a yellow card just three minutes later for a hair pull on an opposition player

The driving maul played a key role in this game for both sides, with both teams utilising them in attack and scoring off the back of them.

Gloucester Hartpury have been unbeaten all season having won all their previous 14 PWR games. Prior to this loss against Trailfinders they hadn’t lost a PWR game since losing to Bristol Bears 14-19 back in November 2024.

After the victory over Gloucester Hartpury today Trailfinders have officially earned their place in the PWR Semi Finals alongside the defeated Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens.