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Saracens earn redemption with PWR Final triumph over Trailfinders
Saracens claimed a first domestic title in four years with an all-action 52-14 win over first-time finalists Trailfinders Women in the Premiership Women’s Rugby Final.
Seeking redemption from last year’s showpiece defeat, Saracens scored 26 unanswered points in the first half, as Julia Omokhuale, Marlie Packer twice and Sydney Gregson crossed.
Jess Breach and Alysha Corrigan raced over immediately after the break before Trailfinders hit back through Maya Montiel and Abi Burton, either side of a Zoe Harrison score.
The all-London affair, played in front of 8,099 fans at Twickenham Stoop, ended with Breach earning her second try to see Saracens win their first title in the PWR era.
Early Saracens pressure turned into Trailfinders dominance as the West London side looked ready to punish any mistakes and did so as Carys Cox claimed a loose ball and set Meg Jones on the counter.
Trailfinders got all the way up to the five-metre line but could not convert, a regular occurrence in the first 40 minutes, as Saracens survived, winning a scrum penalty.
The pattern repeated as Trailfinders' next attempt at opening the scoring saw a kick go over the head of Grace White.
In the 12th minute, Saracens were able to get some respite and made Trailfinders pay as Julia Omokhuale dotted down with Zoe Harrison scoring the conversion.
Trailfinders looked to hit straight back but again saw the ball turned over when they were metres from the tryline.
They were further punished as Marlie Packer went over for her first of the afternoon in her final game for Saracens after nine years in red and black.
Harrison missed the conversion that time but soon got a second shot at it as Packer picked up her second of the afternoon in a similar spot, and the fly-half nailed the kick to put her side 19 points ahead.
The wind had been knocked out of the first-time finalists’ sails as Sarries went over again four minutes later, with the backs getting their first try of the match as Sydney Gregson finished off a move that had started with a fine Alysha Corrigan break.
Some relief came for Trailfinders as a fifth Saracens try was chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up, as PWR Player of the Season Olivia Apps was denied a score.
Trailfinders entered the break 26-0 down, but had the momentum and the player advantage after a yellow card for Gabrielle Senft in the final minute of the first half.
Any hopes of an immediate response after the interval were dashed for Trailfinders when Breach screeched over in the 41st minute, with last-ditch tackles from Meg Jones and Rosie Inman unable to stop her.
Saracens were beginning to show their variety as they worked the ball from one touchline to the other as Corrigan earned a deserved try.
With the deficit standing at 38 points, Trailfinders got on the board with the patience they had missed in the first half as Montiel darted over and Inman converted.
The respite was fleeting, however, as Harrison added to her four conversions with a score as she sprinted under the posts before converting her own try.
With the result almost out of sight, Trailfinders were able to play more freely and benefited from a yellow card for Packer in the 63rd minute.
They made the player advantage pay as they followed Saracens’ move, working through the phases onthe tryline before Abi Burton muscled over and Niamh Gallagher kicked the conversion.
Having been played at a pulsating pace, the game slowed, but Sarries were able to have the final say with a second try for Breach before the party on the pitch truly began as the final whistle blew.
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