Spirit, desire, teamwork – three words that encapsulates Bristol Bears stunning 41-31 PWR victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
The maximum-point win puts Dave Ward’s side very much in the play-off conversation ahead of next week’s fixture at home to Leicester Tigers.
Ilona Maher marked her first PWR start with a try and assist, while Meg Varley got herself on the scoresheet following a lengthy injury lay-off and the returning Keira Bevan kicked a crucial penalty in the closing stages.
Bears got off to a flying start through Phoebe Murray, who sliced through Exeter’s defensive line to finish off a clinical attack.
The home side hit back 10 minutes later when Olivia McGoverne crashed over for a converted try. Despite falling behind, Bears kept their discipline, with forwards Sarah Bern and Hannah Botterman making the hard yards to set the platform for two tries in a frantic six-minute spell.
A dominant driving lineout yielded Bristol’s second try, before Reneeqa Bonner sprinted in for their third score after the b all was moved from left to right at pace. Bevan converted Bonner’s try to increase the visitor’s advantage to 19-7.
The Devon outfit reduced the deficit three minutes before half-time when Taylor Perry dashed to the line, with Bears holding a slender 19-14 lead at the interval.
Exeter came out for the second period all guns blazing and from the restart they got themselves on level terms courtesy of a Claudia MacDonald try.
19 apiece, Bears hit their stride during a remarkable 15-minute period. First, Meg Varley crossed the whitewash on 44 minutes after linking up superbly with Maher to mark her return from a lengthy injury lay-off in style.
Six minutes later Bears were awarded a penalty try, and on 56 minutes Maher went from provider to try-scorer with a lung-busting carry to the line to make it 38-19.
Chiefs’ Alex Tessier cut the gap with a try on 65 minutes, however, Kiera Bevan slotted home a crucial penalty to put Bears more than two converted scores ahead.
MacDonald crossed for her second try for Exeter with seven minutes to go to set up a tense finish, but the day belonged to Bears who dug deep to thwart a series of Exeter attack in the dying embers to record a memorable 41-31 triumph.
Bristol Bears: 15. Courtney Keight, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Meg Varley, 12. Phoebe Murray, 11. Ilona Maher, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Keira Bevan (vc); 1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Lark Atkin-Davies, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Hollie Cunningham, 5. Abbie Ward (c), 6. Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7. Christiana Balogun, 8. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.
Replacements: 16. Jess Sprague, 17. Simi Pam, 18. Elliann Clarke, 19. Delaney Burns, 20. Gabriella Nigrelli, 21. Tilly Ryall, 22. Amy Coles, 23. Ella Lovibond.
