Gloucester-Hartpury were able to deliver a fairytale ending for their departing head coach Sean Lynn as they defeated Saracens in the London club’s own back yard to win their third Premiership Women’s Rugby trophy in a row.
Lynn, who is leaving to become the new Wales head coach, has been at the club since 2019 and has transformed the team from a mid-table side to the first club to win the PWR three times consecutively.
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Gloucester did make it hard for themselves, though, as they have done in several games this season. It has been a theme for the club to absorb a lot of attacking pressure in early phases of games but turn their fortunes around, which was the tale of the final.
Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra soundtracked the teams’ entry to the pitch and it was not long before magic was on display. Mia Venner found a hole in the defence and offloaded to Kate Williams who went over to open the scoring. The Saracens full-back Jess Breach had a carbon-copy score at the opposite end but finished the effort herself to continue her impressive form after returning from injury.
A lack of discipline from Gloucester allowed Saracens to edge up the pitch and they deployed their deadly rolling maul. Gloucester brought it down illegally which led to a penalty try awarded and the co-captain Mo Hunt shown a yellow card. Saracens put their foot on the scoring accelerator and took full advantage of being a player up with an incredible team try finished off by Lotte Sharp.
Gloucester managed to stem the bleeding with the full-back, Emma Sing, dotting down in the corner and Venner adding another. But it was Saracens who led at half-time 19-15.
Gloucester retook the lead with tries by the prop Maud Muir and the hooker Neve Jones. Despite the Circus going down to 14 again, with Alex Matthews given a yellow card for a high tackle on Poppy Cleall, they did not concede any points. It was also Gloucester who scored next with Hunt taking great initiative on the attack, stalling by the line to go herself and crash over.
The Gloucester three-peat brought down the curtain on the PWR season, which will now not be lifted until October. This season was shortened because of the Rugby World Cup happening later this year.
