Tear Maher Bows out of English Rugby with trials in Bristol Defeat to Gloucester | Premiership Women’s Rugby

A tear-wise Ilona Maher signed her time in the English club town with an attempt at Bristol Bears, but it was not enough to prevent a 36-20 defeat against their West Country rivals Gloucester-Hartpury in Women’s Premier League semi-final.

Maher, who has more than 8 m supporters on social media, has been a groundbreaking addition to PWR, signed for Bristol in December and brought record stops and global attention to the Women’s Club game.

Maher’s attempt at the second half had given Bristol hope of pulling out a comeback, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome Gloucester who proved why they are the league’s back-to-back-front masters. Maher, who joined PWR to help his bid to get the US team for this year’s Rugby World Cup, did not exclude a return to the English top flight: “I never say. It was amazing that I even had to come and play here for two and a half months. I hope that even when I don’t play this league continues to grow and we can get these songs out for games even when I’m not there. “

Maher was visibly emotional at the defeat, but it came into the hands of a Gloucester side whose form in the second half of the season has been impressive. After losing home against Bristol in November, they won their last nine season matches to top the table and secure a home semi-final.

A player who made his mark on these wins is the full back Emma Sing, whose exact trunk held the scoreboard ticked in the semi -finals. Her performance can increase her England’s chances with the women’s six nations on the horizon as Red Roses’s head coach John Mitchell watched with 6,702 fans at the temporarily renamed Queensholm.

Red smoke and fireworks, the soundtrack of the biggest show, welcomed the teams to the pitch and the semi -finals more than lived up to the song choices. The opening 28 minutes was completely dominated by Bristol, and although they scored two attempts through Lark Atkin-Davies, they should have capitalized more on their momentum with more visits to 22 and added nothing to the scoreboard.

Bristol’s inability to wipe the knife returned to haunting them as Gloucester was much more clinical when their chances came. Two visits to the 22 gave two attempts through Ellena Perry and Sarah Beckett, and with the trunk with the singing edges edged in front.

Bristol’s afternoon got worse with a yellow card for their # 8 Evie Gallagher for a high tackle on Pip Hendy. The resulting kick to the corner saw Gloucester try a drifting Maul, but with it, they stopped the whipped the ball and bold singing to gave Gloucester a 19-10 lead at the break.

Maher’s attempt started the action in the second half, but Gloucester drew the next blood with their co-captain Zoe Aldcroft pricked down. The match’s attempts came next with the replacement migration Millie David, who ended an excellent effort, with the scoring bringing her level with Saracens’ May Campbell for Top Try-Scorer this league season.

A lavish Gloucester -Team attempt, completed by Hannah Jones, led to deafening applause and a precise punishment from Sing ended the procedure to send them through to the final where they will play Saracens on March 16.

If Gloucester manages to overcome the London club, they win the PWR title for the third season in a row. Aldcroft said, “I think it would be a legacy of this group. Creating history would be absolutely incredible, so we will give it all over the next two weeks to go and do it. “

Applause after matches from fans not only celebrated the hosts’ victory, but also recalled head coach Sean Lynn’s time at the club. Lynn leaves Gloucester after the PWR final as he has been named Wales Women head coach. That meant the semi -finals were his last home match with responsibility. Lynn said, “I have put my heart and soul for five years with Gloucester-Hartpury. My family, they just love it. When I talk about inspiring, these girls, players and staff have inspired my three children. That’s what sports are all about these girls are incredible. I’m really excited to go to Saracens’ backyard (in the final), it doesn’t get bigger than that. “