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#Post#: 155409--------------------------------------------------
PWR Semi Finals
DIR By: poorfour
Date: June 14, 2026, 4:43 pm
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The PWR Semi Finals were played today and lived up to the Prem
ones in terms of drama and quality.
Gloucester-Hartpury, chasing a fourth successive title and with
their squad breaking up next season, went down to Ealing
Trailfinders (in only their first knockout game) 29-26 at
Queensholm.
Saracens needed a late try to beat Exeter 40-38 at the StoneX,
with Exeter's wayward kicking from the tee, and a couple of late
penalties, proving to be their undoing.
The Final, to be held at the Stoop in two weeks' time, looks set
to be an exciting game. Trailfinders will be the underdogs, but
have improved dramatically over the latter half of the season.
It will be interesting to see whether they have enough to live
with Saracens - but Exeter showed that it's possible, and could
have won today with a little more composure at the death.
#Post#: 155412--------------------------------------------------
Re: PWR Semi Finals
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: June 15, 2026, 3:16 am
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Trailfinders set up Saracens final after stunning upset ends
Gloucester’s reign
Saracens will avoid their bogey team, Gloucester-Hartpury, in
the Premiership Women’s Rugby final after Ealing Trailfinders
sensationally knocked out the three-time defending champions.
The 29-26 result is one of the biggest upsets in PWR history as
Gloucester have won the last three titles but an injury-hit
squad and a recent run of disappointing performances sealed the
end of their dominance in the top flight and gave Saracens their
ideal outcome.
Sarries, who defeated Exeter 40-38 in their semi-final, are
within one game of a fourth PWR title but they had a far from
convincing win at home with Exeter giving them a scare as the
visitors were leading until the 75th minute. Saracens will play
Trailfinders in the final on 28 June, a side they have never
lost to, unlike their recent poor record against Gloucester. The
West Country side inflicted Saracens’ only two losses in the
league this season and they also defeated them in last year’s
final at the Stone X Stadium.
The two semi-finals were the most competitive playoffs the
league has seen in its latest era, which began in 2017, with the
upset and a see-sawing game in north London. For some time it
looked like Exeter were also going to cause a shock but their
attempt for a first final in three years was eventually stomped
out with the PWR player of the season, Olivia Apps, inspiring a
comeback win.
The scrum-half scored two tries and her half-back partner, Zoe
Harrison, was also key in an almost perfect goal-kicking
display. The England player of the season missed only one of six
kicks at goal all afternoon. Harrison will be one star
Trailfinders must stop from getting a grip on the final and they
will also take notes from the roadmap laid out by Exeter to pick
at Saracens’ weak spots, particularly at scrum time where Hope
Rogers had a lot of joy.
The USA international scored two tries in the first half to give
the visitors a narrow lead at the break, despite Saracens
scoring four tries of their own. The second half was a
tension-fuelled affair with the momentum pendulum swinging back
and forth every five minutes to leave fans sitting on the edge
of their seats. The decisive blow came with an incredible solo
effort from the Saracens full-back Jess Breach as she scored
with five minutes remaining to extinguish any Exeter hope.
Rogers said: “Disappointment is the biggest word. It was in our
hands to win and to lose it at the end, just overwhelming
feelings of disappointment and knowing what the girls can do and
all of the hard work we have done and now it is over it’s just
disappointment. But I am proud of what we have done.”
The past three engravings on the PWR trophy read Gloucester but
their title dominance is over. Saracens will be hoping to
reignite their hold on the top flight after their own commanding
era in the league from 2017-22 but if Trailfinders can cause a
halt to one party, they can most certainly pop another balloon.
One thing that is certain, the final is set to be a thriller.
“I am excited for the final,” said Apps, who admitted Exeter
were the better side on Sunday. “I think Trailfinders are a
really strong side and we haven’t necessarily played against the
strongest Trailfinders team. It is going to be a really great
match-up.
“I think it is a testament to how competitive the league is
becoming. There are so many phenomenal players who are coming in
and out of this league, sometimes internationals don’t even make
the matchday 23. The women’s game has grown so much, even since
the World Cup.”
HTML https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jun/14/saracens-exeter-premiership-womens-rugby-semi-final-match-report?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Post#: 155413--------------------------------------------------
Re: PWR Semi Finals
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: June 15, 2026, 3:32 am
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Exeter completely blew that at the end. An aimless cross-field
kick to clear, right into space allowing Jess Breach to sprint
in. Absolutely worst clearance they could have managed.
#Post#: 155420--------------------------------------------------
Re: PWR Semi Finals
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: June 15, 2026, 4:36 am
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People accuse Breach of not being able to tackle, but the Exeter
fullbacks attempt on her for the last try was absolutely awful,
the way Breach flew past Tessier was frightening, and then just
picked a line to score shows that she is an incredibly talented
player.
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