Warriors Women went agonisingly close to a stunning Allianz Premier 15s victory over high-flying Bristol Bears at Shaftesbury Park as Elinor Snowsill’s touchline conversion four minutes from time settled the contest.
The Wales international kept her nerve, whilst mastering the blustery conditions to convert Kayleigh Powell’s try and break Warriors’ hearts at the end of a game which could have very easily gone the other way.
HT | Bristol Bears 0-0 Warriors Women
Enthralling @Premier15s clash here at Shaftesbury Park!
ππ§π§πͺπ€πͺπ’π ππ’π³π΅π―π¦π³ | @BoardrmUK pic.twitter.com/e9dFl4fG5N
— Worcester Warriors Women (@WorcsWarriorsW) February 5, 2022
After a scoreless first half in which both sides defended heroically, it was Warriors who registered the first score through Sioned Harries. The Experienced Wales international back-row, who was a colossal figure at the heart of the pack until she was forced off with an injury, crashed over from close range on 48 minutes.
Patient build-up play by the forwards, presented Harries with the chance to dive over and put Warriors 5-0 up, with Minori Yamamoto unable to add the extras.
Bristol inevitably went on the attack from the restart, with Warriors’ excellent defensive unit coming to the fore when Jasmine Joyce broke clear as the hosts threatened an immediate response. Joyce versus Lydia Thompson was a mouthwatering prospect ahead of the game and both were in fine fettle when unleashed into open space.
With the Bristol heavies forcing Warriors back at the set-piece as the second half progressed, Alycia Washington was yellow carded for persistent infringement which was the impetus that Bears needed to level the score.
β±οΈ 67m | Back to the full complement as @Afro_lycia returns to the fray.
π» 5-5 π΅
ππ§π§πͺπ€πͺπ’π ππ’π³π΅π―π¦π³ | @BoardrmUK pic.twitter.com/6cfZBfkuud
— Worcester Warriors Women (@WorcsWarriorsW) February 5, 2022
Snowsill punted a penalty into the corner and from the subsequent line out, the ball was driven over, with Hannah West emerging from a heap of bodies with a smile on her face. Snowsill’s conversion fell short, with the score poised at five apiece.
Washington returned to the field of play on 67 minutes, and this gave the Sixways outfit renewed vigour as they looked to retake the lead going into the final ten minutes of the game.
Jade Shekells did just that on 71 minutes with a scintillating burst of speed to leave a series of Bears defenders in her wake on her way to the whitewash. Sarah Nicholas took over the goal-kicking duties, but she was unable to add the extras and Warriors were 10-5 ahead.
β‘οΈ TRY! β‘οΈ
Yes @jade_shekells π
The centre blitzes through a gap to score!!! @S_Nicholas_6 is unable to convert.
π» 5-10 π΅
ππ§π§πͺπ€πͺπ’π ππ’π³π΅π―π¦π³ | @BoardrmUK pic.twitter.com/2MFXHEf7yT
— Worcester Warriors Women (@WorcsWarriorsW) February 5, 2022
It looked like Warriors would be heading back up the M5 with the spoils, butΒ Bristol’s forward line flexed their muscles, and after ShekellsΒ was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, they made full use of the extra player, with full-back Powell getting on the end of a sweeping attack toΒ cross in the corner.
FT | Bristol Bears 12-10 Warriors Women
Bears snatch it at the death. We left everything out there!
ππ§π§πͺπ€πͺπ’π ππ’π³π΅π―π¦π³ | @BoardrmUK pic.twitter.com/vyqoH9Cv4i
— Worcester Warriors Women (@WorcsWarriorsW) February 5, 2022
Warriors Women | 15 Abi Kershaw, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Jade Shekells, 12 Meg Varley (cc), 11 Vicky Laflin, 10 Minori Yamamoto, 9 Ffion Lewis, 1 Carmen Tremelling, 2 Carys Phillips (cc), 3 Flo Long, 4 Amelia Buckland Hurry, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Alex Matthews, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Sioned Harries
Replacements | 16 El Febrey, 17 Stef Evans, 18 Lisa Campbell, 19 Jo Brown, 20 Cara Brincat, 21 Jess Kershaw, 22 Sarah Nicholas, 23 Vicky Foxwell
Timeline
48m | Harries try 0-5
57m | West try 5-5
71m | Shekells try 5-10
76m | Powell try 10-10
77m | Snowsill con 12-10