PWR: Gloucester-Hartpury 40-14 Saracens - Champions demolish Sarries for opening round win

Quick out of the blocks from Gloucester-Hartpury with a great passage of play finishing with Maud Muir powering over the try line and opening the scoring for the final game of the opening weekend of the PWR season just two minutes in.

Saracens try and respond quickly however sloppiness and a great interception from Gloucester-Hartpury's Natasha Hunt push the Sarries back into their own half.

Saracens ill-discipline let Gloucester-Hartpury to dominate with Kelsey Jones getting over the white line 13 minutes in and then 5 minutes later Shekells pirouetting over the line growing their lead to 19 points with only 20 minutes of the game played.

Saracen’s frustrations start to show as Gloucester search for a fourth try and continue to relentlessly attack.

A great interception by Sydney Gregson puts Saracens on the attacking foot and saw them finish the first half attacking. However, they still finished the half without a point on the board, and an overall disappointing half for the PWR Cup champions.

Gloucester-Hartpury continue to dominate starting the second half very strong with Ireland international, Sam Monaghan getting over the try line extending their lead further and getting Gloucester-Hartpury their first try bonus point of the season.

Saracens finally get on the score board with a hard-fought try by super sub May Campbell getting the ball over the tryline in the 48^th minute. A successful conversion by Zoe Harrison closing the gap to 21 points.

However, that was short-lived with a quick response by Gloucester-Hartpury with Kelsey Jones bagging her second try of the game and the gap widening back to 26 points.

Gloucester-Hartpury extend their lead by a further 7 points with Tatyana Heard flying over the try line along with a successful conversion by Emma Sing.

Saracens respond quickly with Ameila MacDougall getting over the white line and closing the score back to 26 points.

However, too little too late from the London team, the damage had already been done, and the current PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury take home the points.

Tries: Muir (2’) Jones (13’ 52’) Shekells (18’) Monaghan (44’) Heard (65’)

Conversions: George (3’) Sing (14’ 45’ 53’ 66’)

Starting XV: 1 El Perry, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sam Monaghan, 5 Sarah Beckett, 6 Zoe Stratford (CC), 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Alex Matthews, 9 Natasha Hunt (CC), 10 Lleucu George, 11 Nel Metcalfe, 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Jade Shekells, 14 Mia Venner, 15 Emma Sing

Replacements: 16 Neve Jones, 17 Erin Bradley, 18 Ranni Samuda, 19 Kate Williams, 20 Bethan Lewis, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Lizzie Goulden, 23 Hannah Dallavalle

Tries: Campbell (48’) MacDougall (69’)

Conversions: Harrison (49’, 70’)

Starting XV: 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Carmen Tremelling, 4 Sophie De Goede, 5 Rosie Galligan, 6 Georgia Evans, 7 Marlie Packer (CC), 8 Poppy Cleall, 9 Tori Sellors, 10 Zoe Harrison (CC), 11 Alysha Corrigan, 12 Emma Hardy, 13 Sydney Gregson, 14 Jess Breach, 15 Sarah McKenna

Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Liz Crake, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Charlotte Wright Haley, 21 Amelia MacDougall, 22 Beth Blacklock, 23 Jemma Jo Linkins