PWR PREVIEW: Maher makes playoff debut
PREVIEW: The Bristol Bears would love to ensure the semifinal of the Premier Women’s Rugby (PWR) against Gloucester-Hartpury this weekend is not Ilona Maher’s last game in a Bears shirt.
The American signed a three-month deal in January and Amber Reed praised the impact she’s had both on the squad and the game in general.
“I think the impact that’s had on the game as a whole is pretty phenomenal,” added Reed. “She wants to grow the game, but she just wants to make an impact with this squad, and she definitely has.
“She grafts, she’s so strong in the gym, works hard, asks questions to know her detail and I think, with all the buzz around it [her arrival], that’s the most impressive thing.
“We’ve got lots of talented players in this side with lots of youngsters coming through and she’s been sharing her experiences with them as well, which is awesome. She’s just a class teammate.
“Our ticket sales have dramatically increase from where they were last season, and it would be pretty remiss of me to not give her credit for that too.”
Maher will make her PWR playoff debut against Bristol Bears’ familiar foes, Gloucester-Hartpury while current World Player of the Year, Harlequins’ Ellie Kildunne must travel away to the StoneX Stadium against Saracens.
The final four 🔥
Here are your semi-final fixtures 🤩@SaracensWomen will host @HarlequinsWomen on Saturday 1 March at StoneX Stadium live on @rugbyontnt 🙌@gloshartpury will face @BristolBearsW on Sunday 2 March at Queensholm live on @rugbyontnt and @BBCSport 👑#PWR… pic.twitter.com/YkgJkteYi0
— Premiership Women’s Rugby (@ThePWR) February 25, 2025
A rare occasion in which two of the biggest names in the sport are underdogs, whatever happens this weekend will be a brilliant spectacle.
Everyone knows that there is one real star in the PWR, and she will take to the field to try and defeat the back-to-back champions.
Maher is a superstar and has the rugby ability to back up the hype.
Since joining Bristol Bears in January, she has been gradually getting better as she has adjusted to 15s and to the PWR very impressively.
Above all, she has brought a buzz around the women’s game that has never been seen before and is much needed, especially in a World Cup year.
Sunday’s semifinal will be head coach Sean Lynn’s last game at Queensholm and he is fully confident his side has what it takes to win, especially if the game becomes close.
He said: “If you are asking a side to go out there and have that grit, I would not pick anyone else. I’m all about having warrior queens and these individuals will just go out and fly into Sunday’s game.”
Dave Ward’s Gloucester-Hartpury travel to Queensholm looking to avenge their defeat in last season’s Final having finished fourth, earning them a fourth consecutive play-off appearance, and inside centre Reed feels ready for the challenge that will be provided by their opponents on Sunday.
“It’s a challenge that we’re going to get after,” she said. “It being a semifinal definitely gives a bit more spice and you don’t get any second chances.
“I said to the team yesterday, it’s about growing throughout this week. So, if we get our details right by Sunday, we don’t need a second chance, we can go out and execute everything we want to. We’re ready for it.”
*Quins will travel to London to take on Saracens after qualifying for the semifinals for the first time in three years.
They did so thanks to a run of 10 straight wins during the campaign, including away to Sarries, but that streak was ended the last time the two teams met.
In the early years of PWR, or Premier 15s as it was at the time, Sarries and Quins dominated the league, facing off in the first three Finals.
With the emergence of Gloucester-Hartpury, Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs, that hegemony has been challenged, with Quins missing out on the play-offs for the last two years.
Saracens will host the clash after clinching second spot in the league with a victory over Sale Sharks in their final regular season game.
That was a fifth consecutive victory for the three-time champions, who at one point were under pressure in the race to finish in the top four.
Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears
Teams:
Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Zoe Aldcroft, 4 Sarah Beckett, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Neve Jones, 1 El Perry, Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Kathryn Buggy, 19 Steph Else, 20 Georgia Brock, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Millie Hyett, 23 Rachel Lund
Bristol Bears: 15 Courtney Keight, 14 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, 13 Phoebe Murray, 12 Amber Reed (cc), 11 Ilona Maher, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Keira Bevan; 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Christiana Balogun, 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Hannah Botterman,
Replacements: 16 Holly Phillips, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Meg Varley, 23 Millie David
Referee: Alexa Thomas
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell and Calum Howard
TMO: David Rose
Saracens vs Harlequins
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Emma Hardy, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Ella Wyrwas; 8 Poppy Cleall, 7 Marlie Packer (captain), 6 Georgia Evans, 5 Louise McMillan, 4 Rosie Galligan, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 2 May Campbell, 1 Akina Gondwe
Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Bryony Cleall, 20 Gabrielle Senft, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Sarah McKenna, 23 Sydney Gregson
Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock, 13 Sarah Parry, 12 Lagi Tuima, 11 Claudia Pena, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Emma Swords; 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Tyla Shirley, 5 Danelle Lochner, 6 Sarah Bonar, 7 Abbie Fleming, 8 Jade Konkel (c)
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Babalwa Latsha, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Lauren Torley, 23 Lisa Neumann
Referee: Holly Wood
Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and James Cornell
TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Additional source @PWR
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