It was heartbreak for Bristol Bears as their PWR play-off bid took a hit with a 39-38 defeat at the hands of Trailfinders Women.

Bears thought they had stolen victory at the death when they drove the ball across the line, only for referee Charlie Gayther to rule that the ball was held up. 

Trailfinders were 10-0 up inside the first 10 minutes courtesy of Kate Zackary and Lisa Thompson as they came out of the traps all guns blazing. 

Bears cut the gap to 10-7 when Lark Atkin-Davies rumbled over from a driving lineout but back came the Londoners, who registered their third score on 24 minutes through Liz Musgrove. 

With Trailfinders leading by eight points, the next score would be crucial, and it was Bears who got themselves back into the contest by virtue of Wales international Alisha Joyce-Butchers to cut the gap to 15-14. 

Lisa Thompson secured the try bonus-point on the half hour, before Millie David raced into the corner for Bears’ third score. 

On the stroke of half-time, Musgrove scored her second try to give Trailfinders a 27-21 lead at the break. 

Bears winger Reneeqa Bonner sprinted into the corner 10 minutes into the second half, before Tyson Beukeboom restored Trailfinders’ advantage.

Grace Moore extended the home side’s lead with a try on the hour as she crashed through the middle to touch down.  

39-26 down, Dave Ward’s side mounted a dramatic fightback in the closing stages. Wing-ace David scooted in for a converted try and on 73 minutes Atkin-Davies went over with a carbon-copy of her first score. Keira Bevan struck the post with the subsequent conversion, with Trailfinders able to hold on.

15.⁠ ⁠Ella Lovibond, 14. Reneeqa Bonner, 13. Courtney Keight, 12. Meg Varley, 11. Millie David, 10. Phoebe Murray, 9. Keira Bevan (vc); 1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Lark Atkin-Davies, 3. Elliann Clarke, 4. Delaney Burns, 5. Abbie Ward (c), 6. Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7. Christiana Balogun, 8. Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Jess Sprague, 17.⁠ ⁠Simi Pam, 18.⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 19.⁠ ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 20.⁠ ⁠Evie Gallagher, 21.⁠ ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22.⁠ ⁠Jenny Hesketh, 23.⁠ ⁠Jasmine Joyce-Butchers