Leicester Tigers were unable to make the most of long spells of possession, failing to take their chances against a clinical Bristol Bears Women's side at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
It’s a chilly morning in Leicester as we get underway in today’s clash with last year’s Premiership Women’s Rugby finalists.
Tigers use the ball well early, going full width as Fran McGhie first has a dart and makes a handful of metres before a miss pass allows Julia Omokhuale to crash up before Amy Cokayne makes an early break.
The hooker sprints through and hands off the covering wing, offloading out the back but the ball is then stripped and Bears break.
Despite Tigers enjoying the opening five minutes of possession, the visitors are clinical with possession; they go wide almost immediately, punching holes, before eventually slick hands sees the ball end up with wing Millie David, the league’s top try scorer, who turns on the afterburners and speeds over for the opening score.
Seconds later they have another. Recent Red Rose Phoebe Murray makes a break in midfield and the offloads come out, granting Jasmine Joyce-Butchers space on the right wing. The Wales and Team GB flyer sets off with space ahead. Although McGhie does superbly to chase back and make the tackle, Joyce-Butchers has support and fullback Jenny Hesketh goes over for their second.
Again, Tigers enjoy a solid spell of possession. Hard lines from Catha Jacobs and the rest of the forwards come in as the hosts probe the line with a kick through, which is chased down brilliantly by Emily Henrich and Evie Wills. The side continue to make incremental metres up until the line. But, once again, the ball is lost.
In a phonebooth of space, Joyce-Butchers weaves magic, stepping this way and that and coming through a gap somehow, sprinting the whole distance to score from her own line. With the majority of possession, Leicester find themselves down by three tries in fewer than 20 minutes.
Tigers come again, showing superb resilience to continue fighting. Again the side earn their way up to the line, forcing a penalty before kicking to touch. Although the ball is lost, the defence is strong as Bears attempt to play their way out of danger, a big double shot forcing them back over their own line and forcing a five metre scrum.
The backs look to execute a first time hit over the line but a charging Wills is held up, allowing Bears to clear. The two sides trade possession until a handling error allows Tigers to get on the scoresheet, Wills pouncing, drawing the nearest defender before offloading to McGhie who dives over for her third try in two games.
Tigers come again and it looks like they could get within a point as they continue to hammer the line. The closest they come is McGhie hitting a booming clearance close to her own 22; the bounce is incredibly kind and it looks to be rolling out for a 50.22 but is batted back by Hesketh. However, McGhie has continued her run and grubbers it through, the ball just rolling out as she dives to score.
The Bears response is brutal. Three tries in rapid succession, two of which allow Millie David to get her hat trick and greatly enhance the Bears lead at the break.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 07 – 36 Bristol Bears
Tigers start the half strongly once again, invigorated at the break and hitting hard lines to earn their way into Bristol’s 22. The two sides exchange penalties and scrums as the visitors defend doggedly, eventually playing their way out of danger after 10 minutes of being under the cosh.
There’s cheers around the stadium as Meg Jones makes her long awaited return to the field but these celebrations are cut short as Bears again execute two rapid scores.
The first sees a constant battering up as props Botterman, Bern and finally No. 8 Marston-Mulhearn thunder into contact, the latter hitting a low drive to go over from a metre out.
A minute later, David gets her fourth of the match as successive offloads give the wing space and she finishes well in the corner.
Tigers continue to give it all in defence and win a turnover, which supporters their first taste of Meg magic.
Receiving in space, Jones puts a step on and speeds past her opposite number and then executes a 2 on 1 to put McGhie into space. The wing looks to have the gas but a last gasp tap tackle just upends as her as she’s about to go clear, cruelly halting a certain try.
Again Tigers play phases and keep possession but the Bears defence is relentless and the hosts just can’t find a way through before, eventually, they gain possession back. A few minutes later, replacement hooker Lana Skeldon drives over from short range.
Leicester still look for points as the two sides trade possession in the final ten minutes, both teams unable to break one another down as the likes of Russell, Omokhuale and Natasha Jones hammer the line.
However, in a moment emblematic of the match as a whole, it's Bears who strike, a knock on pounced upon as Ella Lovibond sprints through from distance.
