In a flash, the anticipation spanning several weeks has concluded, as Premiership Women’s Rugby returns to captivate audiences on weekends.
Following the winter hiatus, Round 9 delivered a diverse array of outcomes. Gloucester Hartpury reclaimed the leading position, surpassing a Saracens squad that benefited from an additional week off.
Furthermore, Bristol Bears marked a resurgence with a victory, and Exeter Chiefs secured a dominant 36-0 win over Leicester Tigers in the South West region.
Presented below are three key discussions from Round 9…
Sing’s exceptional displays demand recognition
Over the previous two campaigns, Emma Sing’s contributions have approached an almost supernatural level of skill.
Consistently occupying the full-back position for Gloucester Hartpury throughout nearly her entire senior career, she has been instrumental in guiding the West Country team to three consecutive PWR championships and topped the league in scoring. It is highly probable she will achieve a fourth league title in four years this coming June.
During The Circus’ 45-26 triumph against Loughborough Lightning on Sunday afternoon, the finest aspects of her play were on full display.
Her performance showcased precision in place-kicking, dynamic runs with possession, and impressive defensive prowess, notably when she secured a turnover on her own try line, thwarting Bo Westcombe Evans’ advance.
At the conclusion of the match, Sing had accumulated 10 points and earned her fourth Player of the Match accolade for the season.
Witnessed by John Mitchell, who recently signed an extended agreement to remain with the Red Roses until 2029, this display from the 24-year-old was undeniably a powerful declaration.
Though she was an infrequently deployed asset in England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup victory, largely owing to Ellie Kildunne’s dominance, there’s a burgeoning sentiment that the moment has arrived for the skilled goal-kicking full-back.
The next challenge for the three-time champions involves an away game against Sale Sharks. This presents another chance for Sing to showcase her abilities and secure a starting position for England’s inaugural fixture in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, facing Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Have Bristol successfully overcome their past struggles?
To be frank, the prospects appeared dire for Scott Lawson’s Bristol Bears as they approached the winter intermission.
A significant defeat against Harlequins at Big Game left no room for optimism for a squad that hadn’t secured a single point since their initial victory over Leicester Tigers in Round 2.
This past weekend, the Bears exhibited qualities previously unseen from them during the current season, indicating a shift in their fortunes.
Their narrow 30-29 victory against Sale Sharks, clinched at the very end, saw the team recover from a 12-point half-time disadvantage, revealing a tenacity and resolve that could propel them higher in the standings over the forthcoming weeks.
Several factors contributing to this win, which was sealed by Keira Bevan’s penalty in the 82nd minute, are quite evident. Meryl Smith’s comeback from a prolonged injury proved incredibly well-timed, as the Scotland international took up a centre position alongside Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant, initiating a promising collaboration.
Discipline also played a role. Rhona Lloyd’s yellow card in the first half provided an opening for Amy Dale and Reneeqa Bonner, enabling the home team to establish a stronger presence in the match.
A similar observation applies to the ten minutes in the second half during which the Sharks played shorthanded after Erica Jarrell-Searcy received a sin bin, particularly after the Bears largely controlled the second half with tries from Ella Lovibond and Bevan.
The West Country team’s next fixture on Saturday is against Trailfinders Women. Securing a victory over a team strongly contending for a top-four position would be considerably important.
The Celtic back-row combination for Quins has finally materialized as anticipated
In their efforts to solidify a position within the top four, Ross Chisholm’s Harlequins clinched a victory at the eleventh hour against Trailfinders Women, thanks to Claudia Pena’s crucial conversion under pressure.
Although the match itself was highly entertaining, with the advantage shifting back and forth between the two squads, it was Harlequins’ back-row that sparked considerable discussion.
This season marked the inaugural occasion where the team could deploy a back-row featuring the formidable talents of Aoife Wafer from Ireland, Alex Callender from Wales, and Jade Konkel from Scotland.
It is undeniable that each of them made a significant impact.
Wafer scored an impressive hat-trick of tries, and Callender’s late touchdown created the opportunity for Pena’s decisive winning score against their West London adversaries. Konkel displayed a tenacious spirit, with all three Celtic players remaining on the field for the entire 80 minutes.
Harlequins had already shown strong performances even without this specific back-row arrangement—largely because Callender was recovering from injury and Konkel had been playing at lock—but now with all three athletes fully available, more commanding displays from Quins are anticipated in the forthcoming weeks.
