Round 16 Review: Trailfinders strengthen grip on fourth and Bears stun Quins

If the Guinness Women’s Six Nations can match the PWR for drama across the next two months, then we are in for an epic Championship.

In the last round of league action until the back end of May, the race for the semi-finals took another twist while there were points and tries aplenty up and down the country.

League leaders Gloucester Hartpury and chasers Saracens both recorded handsome wins, while Bristol Beats upset Harlequins and Trailfinders Women edged closer to the top four.

It leaves things tantalisingly poised, as players depart for international duty, ahead of the final fortnight at the end of May.

ORR DOUBLE SEALS BIG DAY OUT VICTORY

Bristol Bears continued their impressive form with a crucial victory against Harlequins but their semi-final hopes are now mathematically over and they may have delivered a knock-out blow to Harlequins’ too.

Watched on by a club-record crowd at Principality Stadium, Emma Orr scored two second-half tries to overturn a 14-5 half-time deficit to win 17-14 in Ruahei Demant’s last game.

Beth Wilcock and Aoife Wafer scored tries for Harlequins to cancel out Christiana Balogun’s fifth-minute effort for the Bears.

The home side, who have turned their form around in the new year and lost just two of their last seven, worked their way back into the game just before the hour mark.

Wales scrum-half Keira Bevan chipped in-behind the Quins defence and Orr pounced, collecting it brilliantly in her stride and touching down.

The Scotland international then scored a brilliant individual try with a little more than six minutes remaining, breaking two tackles and side-stepping a third after a neat Bears move.

Emma Orr 🤝 Brace

The centre barrels over again to put @bristolbearswomen in the lead 👏#PWR pic.twitter.com/2JLD0E9oPq

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 28, 2026

Quins pushed hard for a comeback in the final five minutes but the Bears defence held stern to complete victory.

They are 12 points off the top four with two games to go. Harlequins have just one game to play and are mathematically still in contention but their hopes have taken a major hit.

SARACENS SOAR PAST SHARKS IN SHOWDOWN

It was an equally disappointing weekend for Sale Sharks, who were comfortably beaten by Saracens in Showdown VI at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Londoners won 54-0 to bank a home semi-final and keep the pressure on league leaders Gloucester Hartpury.

Saracens scored some brilliant tries, led by Olivia Apps in the first few minutes, who took a Jess Breach offload to the house after the full-back skipped past several Sharks defenders.

Slick hands helped Poppy Cleall and Gabrielle Senft rumble over shortly after, while Marlie Packer powered across for the bonus-point score and Liz Crake ensured they held a 33-0 half-time advantage.

Packer powering over 💥@SaracensWomen are storming the Showdown#PWR pic.twitter.com/BE9CISnIcy

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 28, 2026

Kelsey Clifford, Lotte Sharp and Breach added further tries in the second half.

Sale’s defeat sees them slip behind Trailfinders Women, and also helped ensure third-placed Exeter Chiefs will be in the semi-finals.

Sharks have one game to go, while Trailfinders have two. They will need their rivals to lose both and then beat Exeter with a bonus-point on the last day to progress.

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BRILLIANT BURTON INSPIRES TRAILFINDERS

Abi Burton scored a fine hat-trick as Trailfinders Women edged Loughborough Lightning in a barnstormer to boost their own semi-final chances.

Burton proved deadly from close range, powering over three times from either the base of a ruck or a scrum, to inspire her team to a 39-26 lunchtime win – their third in four PWR games.

Grace White, Meg Jones, Ella Amory and Emma Taylor also crossed for Trailfinders Women, who are now fourth and four points ahead of Sharks.

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Lightning have been involved in several epic matches of late but more often than not coming out on the wrong side, with defeats to Bears, Sharks, Gloucester Hartpury and now Trailfinders in the last five weeks.

The Six Nations break comes at the perfect time, while England fans will have been heartened to see Sadia Kabeya create more magic with a sensational second-half try.

Trailfinders have the advantage in the race for the semi-finals but face both Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens in what will be a nervy last two weeks.

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GLOUCESTER HARTPURY EDGE TOWARDS TOP SPOT

The last, but not least, game before the break saw league leaders Gloucester Hartpury go to within one point of securing top spot in the league, as they beat Leicester Tigers 51-14.

Dan Murphy’s side were in irresistible form as they maintained their 100 per cent winning record this season and a nine-point lead at the top of the tree.

Mia Venner got the ball rolling inside two minutes following a fine pass from Lizzie Goulden but the Tigers, who are winless this season, hit back through an excellent Georgie Lingham score.

No stopping Mia Venner!

Barely a minute gone and @gloshartpury hit the front 👊#PWR pic.twitter.com/bjmabh3rQz

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) March 29, 2026

Rachel Lund, Abi Pritchard and Sisilia Tuipulotu ensured Gloucester Hartpury had a bonus point by the 22nd minute, while Bianca Blackburn scored a fifth try on the stroke of half-time.

Tuipulotu was sin-binned midway through the second half but further tries from Venner, her second, Tabitha Copson and Lund again completed the win.