Sale Sharks Women were defeated by Bristol Bears at the Corpacq Stadium in round 12 of the Allianz Premier 15s
Sale Sharks Women slipped to second-half defeat against Bristol having been on level pegging at half-time.
Sharks enjoyed territory and possession in the first half, but it took the full 40 minutes and a Bristol mauling try before they were able to convert this to points. Parity was not to be sustained however as the visitors scored five tries in a dominant second half.
Despite a 30-minute wait for the first points of the game, the Corpacq crowd were thoroughly entertained this afternoon with both sides showing desire to play with the ball in hand.
Sharks enjoyed possession in Bristol’s 22 for much of the half, but were at times inhibited by a misfiring lineout.
When Bristol finally managed to enter Sharks territory, they were deadly from the lineout maul, hooker Hannah West collapsing over the line after a powerful team drive.
With the minutes ticking away, Sharks responded positively and through some lovely hands in the wide channels got their reward, a well taken try in the corner for Lisa Neumann.
After the break, another mauling try from Bristol saw Abbie Ward claim five more for the visitors with Reed adding the two.
Bears then began to find success through the middle channel, with Jasmin Joyce finishing in the corner after an exceptionally clean line from Phoebe Murray. Joyce scored her second soon after following some intricate offload play from the Bears.
Even prop Sarah Bern got in on the action with another lovely line in the midfield that saw her thunder under the posts for the visitors.
After a clash of heads and injury to Sharks skipper Beth Stafford saw Sharks reduced to 14 women, it was with the player advantage that Bristol crafted their final try of the afternoon – a well worked chip and chase with support runners aplenty allowing Jenny Hesketh to end the afternoon with another offloading try.
A second-half that will be a tough pill to swallow for Sharks, Katy Daley Mclean’s women now face a six-day turnaround as they prepare to host Loughborough next weekend.
BOL Foods Player of the Match: Beth Stafford
TEAMS:
Sale Sharks Women
15. Lauren Delany, 14. Lisa Neumann, 13. Laura Perrin, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Evie Tonkin, 10. Lizzie Duffy, 9. Mhairi Grieve (VC); 1. Catie Benson, 2. Leah Lyons, 3. Nick James, 4. Beth Stafford, (C), 5. Molly Morrissey, 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones, 7. Georgie Perris-Redding, 8. Vicky E Irwin
Replacements
16. Molly Kelly, 17. Katie Houghton, 18. Gwenllian Pyrs, 19. Nicola Howat, 20. Lucy Winter, 21. Jess Roberts, 22. Hollie Bawden, 23. Rachel Woosey
Bristol Bears Women
15. Kayleigh Powell, 14. Jasmine Joyce, 13. Phoebe Murray, 12. Amber Reed (cc), 11. Courtney Keight, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Keira Bevan; 1. China Kill, 2. Hannah West, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Delaney Burns, 5. Abbie Ward (cc), 6. Alisha Butchers, 7. Manon Johnes, 8. Rownita Marston.
Replacements:
16. Alice Lockwood, 17. Holly Phillips, 18. Ellie Mulhearn, 19. Talia John, 20. Daisie Mayes, 21. Leanne Infante, 22. Ella Lovibond, 23. Jenny Hesketh.
