Bristol shock Gloucester-Hartpury to end season on high

Reneeqa Bonner running with the ballImage source, Getty Images
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Bristol winger Reneeqa Bonner won player of the match in the victory over Gloucester-Hartpury

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Bristol Bears stunned defending Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury with a 26-21 win at Kingsholm on Sunday.

Two tries from Bears wing Reneeqa Bonner, along with scores from Red Roses prop Sarah Bern and replacement hooker Holly Phillips, secured a memorable victory for Scott Lawson's side, who finish a disappointing campaign in eighth place in the PWR table.

Having already secured top spot, Gloucester-Hartpury rested a large number of their England stars with one eye on next weekend's play-off semi-final as they look to win the competition for a fourth consecutive season.

Second-place Saracens ended their regular-season campaign by hammering Trailfinders Women 80-14.

Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs, who were already guaranteed third spot, defeated Sale Sharks 50-24 at Sandy Park, extending their winning streak to four matches.

Trailfinders Women, with seven wins, finish fourth in the table and will travel to face Gloucester-Hartpury at 14:00 BST in the semi-finals on Sunday, while Saracens will host Exeter Chiefs on the same day at 16:30 BST.

The winners will then meet in the final on Sunday, 28 June at Twickenham Stoop.

Loughborough Lightning won 50-36 away to Leicester Tigers in Sunday's other fixture.

The victory moved Lightning above Sale Sharks into sixth place in the table.

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