- Live Reporting (active)
Summary
Gloucester-Hartpury beat Bristol Bears 36-24 in Premiership Women's Rugby final in Exeter
Bristol led 17-7 at half-time before Gloucester fightback in second half
Gloucester-Hartpury win back-to-back titles, while Bristol lose in first PWR final appearance
Live Reporting
Emma Smith
Goodbye!published at 17:15 22 June
17:15 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Thank you for joining us today - a terrific game of rugby to conclude the domestic season.
We will return for the 2024-25 PWR campaign, hope to see you then.
Image source, Getty Images'Everyone wanted our scalp'published at 17:13 22 June
17:13 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Gloucester-Hartpury full back Emma Sing, who scored 16 points today: "I try to stay as composed as I can be, stick to my process. After the second try, they said, 'a lot of pressure on this Singy'. But I just stayed true to my process.
"We always knew today would be a close match, we were more concerned about Bristol's attack today than last year.
"At the start of the season, everyone wanted to take our scalp. We have been down at points, but we have shown our grit to come back. We had a lot of moments in the second half and turned the game on its head."
On what the celebrations will look like tonight: "Get back on the bus, hop across to our local team spa and start there."
Report: Gloucester-Hartpury beat Bristol to seal PWR titlepublished at 17:09 22 June
17:09 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Gloucester-Hartpury produced a stirring second-half comeback to beat Bristol Bears at Sandy Park and secure back-to-back Premiership Women's Rugby titles.
Gloucester, who trailed 17-7 at half-time, scored four tries and 26 points without reply in a scintillating spell during the second period.
Courtney Keight, Lark Atkin-Davies and Hannah Botterman all touched down as part of an impressive Bears display before half-time, with Natasha Hunt going over in response.
But Gloucester were dominant after the restart and unanswered tries from Pip Hendy, Emma Sing, Mia Venner and Hannah Jones confirmed them as champions for the second successive season, with Ella Lovibond's late effort merely a consolation.
You can read the match report in full here.
Postpublished at 17:07 22 June
17:07 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
And now the champagne is being sprayed everywhere. The Gloucester celebrations are in full swing in the Sandy Park sunshine.
Having lost only one league game all season out of 18, including the play-offs and final, it is hard to begrudge that the best side has won the title.
Get Involvedpublished at 17:05 22 June
17:05 22 June
#bbcrugby, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Glos fan - well done Bristol. Great game.
Nick
Gloucester-Hartpury lift the Premiership trophypublished at 17:03 22 June
17:03 22 JuneBreaking
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Orange ticker tape and flare smoke flies everywhere.
Gloucester-Hartpury power their way to a second straight title. Who would bet against a hat-trick?
Postpublished at 17:02 22 June
17:02 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
The winning Gloucester players are receiving their medals now.
Mo Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft are handed the trophy...
Postpublished at 17:01 22 June
17:01 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
This is Gloucester's second Premiership title, closing in on Saracens' record of three.
They are the first team to win the title in successive seasons since Saracens in 2018 and 2019.
'We went all out'published at 16:59 22 June
16:59 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Gloucester-Hartpury's Sarah Beckett, named player of the match: "It feels like everyone was doing their job, in that 20 minute period we went all out and were just ourselves.
"The people around me are incredible, but my dad said it's not about the times you are put down, it is the amount of times you get up. I just love the environment I'm in."
'We just needed to go back to being us'published at 16:57 22 June
16:57 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Gloucester-Hartpury's Sarah Beckett, named player of the match: "I enjoyed the second half! Thank you to Bristol, it was an incredible match, they put us up against it. We couldn't get the ball first half, but second half we kicked it into the right areas and got it done."
On what was said in the dressing room at half time: "We just need to go back to being us, we didn't play our way. We showed in the second half, three tries is decent pay out, but we just needed to keep the ball and show what we can do when we have the ball."
Postpublished at 16:55 22 June
16:55 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Katy Daley-Mclean
Former England captain on BBC iPlayerThe ultimate game of two halves.
In the first half, Bristol were brilliant and went about their work like we've seen them do all season. But that second-half comeback from Gloucester was phenomenal.
Gloucester-Hartpury win Women's Premiership titlepublished at 16:53 22 June
16:53 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Wonderful celebrations among the Gloucester players.
Head coach Sean Lynn is running around, trying to hug every one of his warriors.
Gloucester-Hartpury win Women's Premiership titlepublished at 16:51 22 June
16:51 22 June
FT: Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
They are inevitable.
Gloucester-Hartpury produce a blistering second half showing - including three tries in eight minutes - to come from behind and win the Premiership final.
Bristol were valiant, creative and the better side in the first half. This was their first final, and surely not the last.
Gloucester-Hartpury win Women's Premiership titlepublished at 16:50 22 June
16:50 22 JuneBreaking
Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
Postpublished at 80 mins
80 mins
Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bears
The clock is in the red...
Penalty - Gloucester-Hartpury 36-24 Bristol Bearspublished at 16:49 22 June
16:49 22 June
Emma Sing (79 mins)
Sing ups her personal points tally to 16 today, arrowing her effort through the posts from deep.
Gloucester are seconds from being back to back champions.
Postpublished at 79 mins
79 mins
Gloucester-Hartpury 33-24 Bristol Bears
Gloucester draw the penalty in the Bristol half.
Emma Sing will kick for goal.
Postpublished at 78 mins
78 mins
Gloucester-Hartpury 33-24 Bristol Bears
Turnover! Gloucester have the ball.
Into the final two minutes, that may well be that.
Postpublished at 78 mins
78 mins
Gloucester-Hartpury 33-24 Bristol Bears
Bristol are in possession, but the ball is in their own half.
Gloucester will be happy to keep it there.
Postpublished at 77 mins
77 mins
Gloucester-Hartpury 33-24 Bristol Bears
We could have a grandstand finish at Sandy Park.
Bristol looking to get a move on, everything being done at 200% speed.
Gloucester just need to manage this game now.
