PWR Round 13 talking points: Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens underline dominance

With five more rounds of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season to go it does now feel like we know the identities of all nine clubs.

At the very least the top two teams are locked in for when knockout rugby rolls around in June. Elsewhere, some top four contenders have started to show frailties, and the race for a top four spot and semi-finals rugby has really picked up speed.

In Round 13, Gloucester Hartpury bagged five points against Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins lost at home to Saracens, Bristol Bears beat Leicester Tigers 68-0 and Sale Sharks bettered Loughborough Lightning 31-29 in Greater Manchester.

Here are three talking points from Round 13…

It really is Gloucester Hartpury’s and Saracens’ to lose

If there is a weekend that really underlined who are the teams to beat this season, it came in Round 13.

Both Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens came up against opposition currently in the top four. Both teams walked away with bonus point wins. Both teams made things look easy.

This show of dominance started on Friday night when Gloucester Hartpury hosted Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm Stadium.

In an almost predictable fashion, the Circus’ forward pack did a lot of heavy lifting early on as Dan Murphy’s team registered first half tries through Georgia Brock, Kelsey Jones and a Maud Muir brace.

In the second half Gloucester Hartpury showed no sign of letting up as Mia Venner and Beth Lewis got over the try line to lock in the 38-20 win.

There is something to be said for Exeter leaving the home of the three-time champions with a try scoring bonus point, although it does make their position in third seem a little scarcer as the chasing pack continue to make up ground.

Saracens retook top spot with their 43-26 win over London rivals, Harlequins. Although, Gloucester Hartpury do have a game in hand as things stand.

Saracens had their try scoring bonus point by the end of the first half at the Twickenham Stoop.

Across the opening 40 minutes May Campbell, Sophie Bridger, Olivia Apps and Jess Breach had all dotted down, as Harlequins could only respond through Jade Konkel and Aoife Wafer.

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To press home their advantage Saracens were cold blooded. Campbell got her second and third of the contest, and a Zoe Harrison penalty with the clock in the red put the result beyond doubt.

Ross Chisholm’s Harlequins have now picked up just one win since the winter break. Their momentum is almost at a standstill.

At this point it does feel like it would take something superhuman to prevent Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens contending for silverware against one another in June.

Next up? Well, Gloucester Hartpury travel to StoneX Stadium where they will take on Saracens.

Sharks deal devastating Lightning blow

As late charges for knockout rugby go, Sale Sharks’ three wins in their last three is a pretty good way to go.

There was certainly a contrast to when the teams met earlier in the season. Then Loughborough strangled Sale with their defence in the East Midlands and picked up a 19-12 win to ignite their charge for knockout rugby.

To say there was a contrast in how the game was played out this weekend is putting things mildly.

Over the course of 80 minutes, nine tries were scored at Morson Stadium and Lightning surrendered a 12-point half-time lead.

That lead had been built up thanks to converted Alev Kelter and Lilli Ives Campion tries and a Helen Nelson penalty goal which was only opposed by a Rhona Lloyd effort.

When the second half resumed Erica Jarrell-Searcy, Amy Cokayne and Katie Childs’ efforts put Tom Hudson’s team in front.

Ultimately it was Lizzie Duffy’s conversion of Gwen Pyrs’ try that proved to be the difference.

 

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There was a nervy watch as Nelson’s conversion of Bulou Mataitoga’s 75th minute try failed to hit its mark, but Sharks now sit six points from the knockout spots with games against Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears to come.

There is some hope for Loughborough still. Because even though a loss has significantly dented any play-off rugby hopes, the team did pick up a try scoring bonus point and losing bonus point.

Trailfinders take knockout rugby advantage without touching a ball

With Exeter Chiefs’ and Harlequins’ losses over the weekend, you have to think that Trailfinders Women boss Barney Maddison will have been quite pleased.

Coming into Round 14 the London club are two points behind fourth-place Harlequins, four points adrift of third-place Exeter Chiefs and have a game in hand on two of PWR’s familiar knockout rugby faces.

This Saturday lunchtime Trailfinders will travel to Devon to take on an Exeter team that beat them 24-12 in the opening round of the season.

It is more than fair to suggest that Trailfinders have evolved plenty since the opening weekend and have enjoyed a litany of impressive performances as their array of summer signings gelled.

Maddison’s team will come into the contest well rested having missed Round 13. After they take on Chiefs, Trailfinders will play Harlequins, Loughborough, Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens.

Good performances, particularly in those first two games, could go a long way to Trailfinders finishing in the top four for the first time.