It’s coming holm! Gloucester-Hartpury shine at Queensholm to win the 2023 Premier 15s
Gloucester-Hartpury triumphed over Exter Chiefs 34-19 to win the Allianz Premier 15s and become the first team from outside of London to lift the trophy in the history of the league.
A record crowd packed into Kingsholm, temporarily rebranded to Queensholm, to see the cherry and white overpower the Chiefs in what was a final for the ages.
In front of a raucous crowd, first-half tries came from Kelsey Jones, Rachel Lund, Sarah Beckett and Emily Tuttosi. Further tries came from Liv McGoverne, Lisa Neumann and Ebony Jeffries.
Fortune favours the bold in finals and after winning a penalty right in front of the posts, Gloucester-Hartpury opted to kick for touch. The gamble paid off and Hartpury’s forwards were put to work and Kelsey Jones clattered over for the opening score after a successful lineout.
Gloucester’s lineout was ferocious in the opening 15 minutes and after pressing deep into the Chiefs’ 22, a sneak around the blindside was held up according to the TMO.
The bombardment of Exeter’s half continued to be ruthless by the home side. Lleucu George executed an outstanding 50/22 but the ball slipped through the hands of the backs after the ensuing lineout.
Exeter finally found their groove through the opening 20 minutes. A dynamic passage of play saw them march up to Gloucester-Hartpury’s but after thinking they had breached the cherry and white try defences, Exeter’s momentum was swept away after not releasing in a ruck.
Gloucester-Hartpury were punished for a high tackle whilst desperately defending their try line and Sarah Beckett was sent to the sin bin.
Exeter capitalised immediately and it was their turn to showcase how dangerous their driving maul could be as Canadian international Emily Tuttosi thundered over with Liv McGoverne adding the extras.
Straight after the restart, the Chiefs were on the back foot. A knock-on handed the cherry and white, still down to 14 players, a handy scrum inside the 22. Despite Exeter having the extra player, Gloucester-Hartpury created an overlap and Rachel Lund went over in the corner.
Fresh from her return to the pitch, Beckett wasted no time in making her presence felt. As the clock turned red, the number eight stretched the cherry and white’s lead once more, powering over from close range. Emma Sing converted and the gap was 10 at the break.
It was paramount that Exeter scored first but instead, it was the cherry and white who kept up their first-half momentum, earning a penalty try just minutes after kick-off which saw Claudia McDonald shown yellow for a deliberate knock over the dead ball line.
As the clock ticked on, Exeter were given a lifeline in the match as Rachel Lund was shown yellow for a high tackle but Gloucester disrupted the lineout and vanquished any hope the Chiefs had of a quick score.
However, a score would come. Chiefs work their way through the phases from the halfway line and after some nifty hands through the backs, the ball found its way into the hands of McGoverne who danced down the touchline to close from close range.
The cherry and white were able to keep it a three-score game after a peach of a penalty sailed through the uprights, greeted by a roar from what seemed to be the whole of Gloucester.
Things continued to go from bad to worse for Exeter who were once again reduced to 14 players after Kate Zachary flew off the Chiefs’ line from an offside position.
The victory was all but secured as Neumann cantered over after a gigantic overlap opened up right in front of the posts.
While Exeter would not win the game, they would get some consolation as Jeffries scored with two minutes to go.
Teams –
Gloucester-Hartpury: E Sing, E Rugman, R Lund, T Heard, M Venner, L George, N Hunt, M Muir, K Jones, L Delgado, S Monaghan, Z Aldcroft, A Matthews, B Lewis, S Beckett
Replacements: C Powell, K Buggy, S Tuipulotu, M Learned, N Jones, B Blackburn, S, Bridger, L Neumann
Exeter Chiefs: M Doidge, E Sinclair, K Zackary, G Cantorna, C McDonald, L McGoverne, F Robinson, H Rogers, E Tuttosi, D Menin, N Fryday, P Leitch, E McMahon, M Allen, R Johnson
Replacements: C Moloney, S Turani, C Jacoby, A Fleming, E Jefferies, M McDonald, R Wilkins, K Buchanan
Scorers –
Gloucester-Hartpury: Tries: K Jones, R lund, S Beckett. Pen: E Sing. Con: E Sing
Exeter Chiefs: Tries: E Tuttosi, L McGoverne, E Jeffries. Con: L McGoverne, G Cantora
Scoring sequence (Gloucester-Hartpury first): 5-0, 5-7, 10-7, 17-7 half-time; 24-7,
Yellow cards –
Gloucester-Hartpury: S Beckett 27, R Lund 48
Exeter Chiefs: C McDonald 42, K Zackary
Referee: Dan Jones
Attendance: 9668
