Saracens and Trailfinders reach JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup Final

Defending champions Saracens will face Trailfinders Women in the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup Final after both came from behind to win their semi-finals. 

The two teams met in the PWR Final last term, and now Trailfinders will have the opportunity to get a revenge of sorts as they earned a spot in the Cup Final for the first time in their history after beating Sale Sharks in Ealing. 

Meanwhile, Sarries overcame Bristol Bears’ blistering start to book their place in a fourth straight Cup Final as they search to become the first team to win three Cups in a row. 

Trailfinders turn it around 

Trailfinders Women scored 33 unanswered points to flip their last-four encounter against Sale Sharks on its head and triumph 33-14. 

Sharks, appearing in their first-ever semi-final across any JAECOO PWR competition, quickly took the lead as Cup captain Sharifa Kasolo scored twice. 

The No. 8's first saw her pick-and-go before she powered over to open up a 14-point lead.

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Trailfinders responded in the 26th minute as Teya Ashworth dotted down off the back of a driving maul to cut the deficit to nine at the break. 

Grace White then produced a stunning weaving run past several Sharks players to score before Jess Cooksey powered over as the hosts took the lead for the first time. 

Trailfinders then pulled away with Isa Prins going over from close range before a score on the final whistle saw the Ealing side into the final. 

Sarries withstand Bears 

Like Trailfinders, Saracens had to come back from an early deficit, also having to weather a second-half fightback to beat Bristol Bears 42-26. 

Bristol Bears crossed twice early on at StoneX Stadium before Saracens got on the board through Morgan Freeman. 

They then took the lead as Amelia MacDougall converted Sydney Gregson’s score, before Emma Hardy moved the defending champions into a nine-point lead at the break.

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The hosts got another try, Freeman’s second, before Bears found a two-try response, coming within two points of Saracens with 15 to play. 

This gave Sarries the impetus to pull away, with Gregson notching her brace before Poppy Cleall added the finishing touches in the 78th minute, with MacDougall nailing her fifth conversion to earn a 100 per cent record from the tee. 

Saracens will now host Trailfinders Women in the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup Final next weekend.