Match report: Exeter Chiefs Women 31 - 41 Bristol Bears Women

Caroline Moore at Sandy Park

It was not the result they wanted but a much-improved performance from the Exeter Chiefs Women compared to the last time they ran out against Gloucester-Hartpury, plus a precious four-try bonus point.

Their main struggle saw Bristol Bears claiming dominance in the set-piece. This resulted in multiple penalties at scrum-time for the visitors, which gave the opposition more time on the ball.

It was a scrum penalty that saw Bears prop Hannah Botterman take off from a lineout with a pass out to winger Ilona Maher. Her opposite number Claudia MacDonald brought her down but the ball crossed to the other side of the pitch for centre Phoebe Murray to score.

There was more positive news for Chiefs when centres Nancy McGillivray pounced on a loose ball and Liv McGoverne kicked ahead to get the Chiefs back into the right territory. This move came to nothing but a sweet pass from Maddie Feaunati to McGillivray then fly-half Taylor Perry to release McGoverne for a galloping run and Chiefs’ first try.

It looked like Chiefs would get an opportunity when Maher fumbled a ball into touch on Bristol’s 22, but, frustratingly, Chiefs lost their lineout. Instead, Bristol went on to win their own lineout and drove over the line for their second try. It was originally deemed to have been held up but once it had been checked by the TMO, referee Craig Maxwell-Keys awarded a penalty try and Mikiela Nelson was shown a yellow card for entering the maul at the side.

Chiefs’ defence was having to work hard and when they managed to pen the Bears in their own 22, Aitchison was forced to kick to touch. A good lineout followed for Chiefs with Dorothy Wall trying to smash through Bears' defence but the opposition caught a loose pass and the chance was lost with Murray cutting through defence to bring the Bears back into Chiefs territory to pass to Holly Aitchison then Varley to send Reneeqa Bonner down the wing for the try.

At 5-19 down and the scrum in an uncomfortable place for Chiefs, it all looked a little dismal until Perry found a gap and the speed round several Bears defenders to touch down the home side’s second try.

Half-time: 14-19

The second half started brightly for Chiefs as MacDonald intercepted a Bristol pass and scampered over for a try to take the scores to 19 apiece after just 30 seconds gone but the joy was short-lived as Maher showed her sevens class to make an excellent step and pass to Varley to see the centre over for the Bears' fourth try.

A second penalty try was compounded by the ongoing troubles at the scrum, which was tough to watch at times, but the fans who came to watch Maher in action were treated to her first try in the PWR as she found herself in space, and despite Perry trying to bring her down, the winger's strength was too much, and she was over the line.

With the last quarter to go, Chiefs did not give up. When they had possession, they tried to make the most of it with Cliodhna Moloney taking a quick penalty and Linde van der Velde busting through the tackles before the forwards keep it close in the loose to suck in enough Bears players to create space for Alex Tessier to score Chiefs’ bonus-point try.

Bristol Bears stretched their lead even further when they opted to kick a penalty through scrum-half Keira Bevan, who made her return to fitness for this game following a broken arm.

Chiefs’ final score came fan extended passage of possession. Chiefs kept coming at the Bears until lock Dorothy Wall passed out to McGillivray with MacDonald ready to skin Maher on the wing for try number two.

It looked like MacDonald, who made her first start for 11 months today, would score her hat-trick but just fell short as the final whistle went.

Full-time: 31-41

Exeter Chiefs Women: A Tessier; C MacDonald, N McGillivray, L McGoverne (M Doidge 69), K Buchanan; T Perry, F Robinson (vc); M Nelson (D Swann 61), E Tuttosi (C Moloney 53), D Menin (C Jacoby 53), P Leith (c), D Wall, E Jefferies (L van der Velden 53), M Feaunati, R Johnson (M Allen 61)

Tries: McGoverne, Perry, MacDonald (2), Tessier

Cons: Tessier (3)

Yellow card: Nelson

Bristol Bears Women: C Keight (A Coles 74); R Bonner, M Varley, P Murray, I Maher (E Lovibond 74); H Aitchison, K Bevan (cc); H Botterman (S Pam 66), L Atkin-Davies, S Bern, H Cunningham (D Burns 56), A Ward (cc), A Joyce-Butchers, C Balogun (E Clarke 69), R Marston-Mulhearn (G Nigrelli 74)

Tries: Murray, penalty (2), Bonner, Varley, Maher

Cons: Penalty (2), Bevan (2)

Pen: Bevan

Referee: C Maxwell-Keys

Attendance: 3,253