Trailfinders Women fought valiantly in the PWR but fall short to Saracens.
Both teams started the Final oozing with great energy as the crowd at the Stoop brought their voices.
Saracens initially had the attack until Meg Jones broke down the right channel and passed to Vicky Laflin. A kick chase saw Isla Norman-Bell soar down the field but Saracens regrouped to defend in their half.
A knock on in Saracens’ 22 saw for the North London side have the scrum. Later passages of play saw Trailfinders re-gather the ball and continue with their waves of attack.
Pentrating down the wings, Trailfinders continued their attacking momentum. A cross-field kick from Claire Gallagher flew a touch too high for Grace White to gather on the wing, giving Saracens a lineout.
After ten minutes, the game remained scoreless.
A penalty from Trailfinders for not releasing saw Saracens kick to the corner for a five metre lineout. From short range, Saracens went over for the first score of the game. Julia Omokhuale was the try-scorer. Zoe Harrison added the conversion.
Trailfinders were determined to bounce back and reverted to attacking out wide. But Saracens’ defence proved strong and they secured a penalty in their 22.
Alysha Corrigan kicked and chased down field but Vicky Laflin gathered the ball and ran into contact. A kick battle ensued before Harrison opted for territory. Trailfinders had a lineout in their half.
Working the ball with hard carries from short range, Saracens went over for a second try scored by Marlie Packer. Harrison missed the conversion.
Saracens had the ball once more as the clock edged into the second quarter but a valiant defensive effort by Vicky Laflin saw Sarries dragged into touch. Yet, the women in yellow were on the defence yet again until Jess Breach opted for a grubber but the ball bounced into touch.
Trailfinders won their own penalty as Saracens failed to roll away from the tackle after an initial break down the centre channel. The women in yellow worked their way through the phases until a knock-on saw for a Saracens scrum.
Running the ball from the scrum, Trailfinders re-grouped but it was not enough as Packer went over for another try.
With momentum on their side, the North London outfit went side to side for their fourth try scored by Sydney Gregson.
A knock-on from the re-start gave Trailfinders a scrum on the edge of Saracens’ 22. An intercept turned into another wave of attack for Saracens and eventually saw Sophie De Goede pick the ball from the ruck and offload to her Canadian teammate Olivia Apps who scored the try. However, the referee’s attention was brought to a knock-on in the phases leading ip to the try and the fifth score was scrubbed off.
Trailfinders were not to be put down. A chip and chase from Claire Gallagher got Trailfinders back in the red zone. Another attacking wave saw Gabrielle Senft fly out of defence and she deliberately knocked on the ball and was quickly sent to the sin bin. Yet, a knock-on from the women in yellow ended the first half.
Half-time: Saracens 26-0 Trailfinders Women
Meg Jones put boot to ball to kick-start the second half. Packer gathered and Saracens moved into attack quickly with Jess Breach cutting down the middle to score under the posts. Harrison added the extras.
A seventh try for Saracens came from Corrigan after the women in black and red went wide. Harrison knocked the ball wide on the conversion.
The resilience shown by Trailfinders never faulted as on the 49th minute, they bouldered over with Maya Montiel coming away with the score. Rosie Inman slotted the conversion.
But Saracens replied quickly with another score. A break from De Goede set up her teammates for the score. Harrison was the try-scorer and she converted her own try.
Laflin put her hand up in Trailfinders’ attack as she broke down the right wing, chipped and chased her own kick, then made a successful tackle. Trailfinders were awarded with a lineout. Trailfinders went wide with the attack but Saracens dragged them into touch for their own lineout. Yet, Trailfinders were awarded another penalty with their put-in at the scrum.
Winning a scrum penalty, Trailfinders opted to kick for the corner in a bid to decrease the score deficit.
Playing with advantage, Trailfinders were going from short range. Packer was shown a yellow card for the accumulating penalties. Trailfinders kicked to the corner for a five metre lineout. Their efforts were rewarded with a second try from short range scored by Abi Burton. Niamh Gallagher added the conversion.
With Rachel Malcolm on the field, she gathered the ball and passed outside to Laflin who made another break down the right wing. Only two Saracens defenders were able to stop her.
Saracens had a lineout in their half and opted for the maul whilst Apps called for it and carried down the left channel.
Trailfinders had the put-in for a scrum then shifted the ball left. Saracens conceded another penalty and Jones opted for the corner as Packer returned to the field from her time in the sin bin.
With the clock ebbing towards the 80-minute mark, Trailfinders had a scrum in their 22. But Saracens won the ball back and proved relentless in attack. Quick hands saw Corrigan pass inside to Breach who touched the ball down for her second try of the match. Harrison added the extras.
Full-time: Saracens 52-14 Trailfinders Women
Saracens –
Tries: Julia Omokhuale 14, Marlie Packer 22 30, Sydney Gregson 33, Olivia Apps 36, Jess Breach 41 77, Alysha Corrigan 45, Zoe Harrison 53
Conversions: Zoe Harrison 14 30 33 41 53 78
Yellow cards: Gabrielle Senft, Marlie Packer
Trailfinders Women –
Tries: Maya Montiel 49, Abi Burton 65
Conversions: Rosie Inman 50, Niamh Gallagher 65
