Following a break, Premiership Women’s Rugby returned with compelling action.
In every moment of the four intense matches that unfolded, we witnessed individual brilliance and displays of team prowess.
The league standings are still evolving, although Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens have solidified their positions at the summit.
Here are three key observations from Round 5…
Westcombe Evans aims for Red Roses selection
Following Abby Dow’s retirement announcement, a key question arose: who will assume her role on the Red Roses’ wing?
From now on, performances of emerging, overlooked, and uncapped players will face intense scrutiny.
Prior to Round 5, RugbyPass featured Loughborough Lightning’s Bo Westcombe Evans. The 23-year-old, who earned two England caps in 2024 before an ACL injury, expressed her desire for increased Test match opportunities.
She emphasized this by scoring four tries against Leicester Tigers on Saturday, accounting for half of her team’s tries in the East Midlands derby.
In that set, the wing displayed her exceptional speed, rugby acumen, and power, as the team’s forwards and backs combined seamlessly to achieve a 50-15 victory.
Others also put forward their case for England selection. Mia Venner performed well as Gloucester Hartpury maintained their perfect start, while Reneeqa Bonner of Bristol Bears delivered a standout performance despite a significant loss.
Sale Sharks remain a formidable force
It’s fair to say that we’ve witnessed a spectrum of performances from Sale Sharks this season, encompassing the good, the bad, and the frustrating.
Entering this season, we anticipated increased competitiveness from the North West club.
At a rain-soaked Morson Stadium, Tom Hudson’s team secured a 26-all draw against an Exeter Chiefs team that dominated possession and territory for much of the 80 minutes.
There may be elements of disappointment within the performance. As the final quarter approached, Sharks held the lead before a yellow card for Charlotte Fray and tries from Emily Robinson and Hope Rogers evened the score. Two penalty attempts by Holly Aitchison fell short, preventing them from securing the win.
From beginning to end, the contest was engaging to watch.
Each team will gain something from the game. Exeter will likely feel more frustrated, drawing for the second time in three matches.
While Sale might be concerned about relinquishing a 12-point lead late in the game, they still managed to create opportunities to win. On another day, those penalty kicks might have been successful.
Saracens and Gloucester Hartpury deliver stern lessons
Before the season commenced, we identified Trailfinders Women and Bristol Bears as potential top-four contenders.
In Round 5, both teams were reminded of the high standard required for semi-final teams as Saracens and Gloucester Hartpury performed with relentless force.
Scott Lawson’s tenure as Bears boss has yet to fully ignite. A Round 2 victory over Leicester has been followed by defeats to Saracens, Trailfinders, and now Gloucester Hartpury.
Even with their high-profile Black Ferns signing, Ruahei Demant, Bristol were unable to prevent the three-time champions from scoring eight tries. The final score stood at 54-14 in favor of Dan Murphy’s consistent winners, highlighting a significant disparity.
Gloucester Hartpury have accumulated every available point, maintaining their position at the top. Nothing groundbreaking there.
Meanwhile, in West London, Trailfinders hosted Saracens at their Sports Ground. After impressive wins against Bristol and Sale in recent weeks, any confidence gained was promptly diminished.
Alex Austerberry’s North Londoners displayed clinical efficiency. Securing a 57-5 victory, Sydney Gregson, Marlie Packer, Alysha Corrigan, Lotte Sharp, Poppy Cleall, Liz Crake, Jess Breach, and a May Campbell brace all crossed the try line.
