Saracens just needed three ingredients to play Trailfinders off the pitch and win their first Premiership Women’s Rugby title in four years: clinical attack, brick-wall defence and an immense kicking game. Not only did they execute their gameplan but the experience of being in their sixth final in eight seasons was devastatingly clear, despite having to play with 14 players for 20 minutes.
The first-time finalists Trailfinders had hopes of causing a huge upset after knocking out the three-time defending champions Gloucester‑Hartpury in their semi‑final. But wasted chances meant that even Meg Jones’s solid performance was not enough to inspire another shock. Instead Marlie Packer, who scored two tries and was sent to the sin bin, won her fourth top-flight title to toast nine years at Saracens. In a poetic twist, she lifted the trophy as Sarries co‑captain alongside Zoe Harrison at the venue she will be playing at next season, as she is making the switch to Harlequins.
Packer, Harrison and Olivia Apps had a great final to get Saracens over the line but Alysha Corrigan was a player doing a lot of work under the radar. She made some huge tackles, scored a try and made a break to set up Sydney Gregson’s score, which put the nail in Trailfinders’ coffin in just the 33rd minute.
The Saracens party was clear from the off with chants of “Sarries” heard several streets over from the Stoop and remnants of a smoky smell lingered from the supporters’ black‑and‑red confetti cannons. Shades of green also littered the stands for those supporting Trailfinders but fans from across the league also wore their club colours for the league’s showpiece.
The 8,099 fans in west London were another statement of the growth of the game. The final was hosted at the Stoop for the first time in 10 years with a much more fitting crowd than a decade ago, when around 500 people were watching.
Trailfinders said they had no fear heading into the final and that was on display early with Jones showing her sparkle, creating an incredible break to give them a jolt of momentum. Time and time again they pushed for the opening try but were thwarted by a hugely physical defence. That impenetrable wall was rewarded at the other end as the Sarries lock Julia Omokhuale powered over to break the deadlock. Packer’s two tries came next with Gregson adding another to take the lead to 26-0 at half-time.
An excellent finish from Jess Breach started the second 40 with Corrigan also dotting down. Trailfinders had consolation scores through Maya Montiel and Alana Borland but tries from Harrison and Breach sealed a dominant afternoon for the north London club. Harrison remarked post-match that the winning mentality is baked into players as soon as they arrive: “If you come to Sarries, you are here to win. Not here to play rugby, you are here to win.”
Gloucester’s grip on the trophy is over but their stranglehold was added motivation for Saracens to reclaim the title, according to the head coach, Alex Austerberry.
“Gloucester were superb champions, [winning it] three years in a row is a great credit and that has risen the bar,” he said. “I think this year we have taken it a bit further as well. Standing up to the challenges and gauntlet that had been laid down is [incredible], I am so proud of the girls. But now we have a target on our back and we have to make sure we keep pushing forward because that is what champions do.”
This PWR season has been its most competitive yet but the final was not representative of that. Trailfinders head coach, Barney Maddison, denied the club had played their “final” against Gloucester two weeks ago and added they did not just want to be happy to be in the showpiece with that “not the attitude of the group”, but many had hoped for a much closer scoreline on Sunday.
The club will assess and adjust for next season. But for now, it is Packer and Saracens who have the bragging rights as queens of London and the PWR.
