By Jordan Renwick
Bristol Bears Women’s head coach Dave Ward and centre Phoebe Murray, are ‘hungry’ for a win against Saracens Women on Saturday at Ashton Gate.
Fresh from a stellar 19-46 win against Loughborough Lightning, Bristol Bears are preparing to take on Saracens, rehashing their rivalry from the end of last season. Dave Ward said, “there’s not a lot of love between us and Saracens as a club, both men and women.”
Saracens have already promised to appear in the final after it was confirmed they would play host in March 2025 at StoneX Stadium. Dave Ward added, “The pressure is certainly on, their squad is up there with one of the best in the league.”
Having won both of their matches so far in the PWR season, Saracens are looking strong heading into round three. Phoebe Murray said, “I think Saracens will be very, very hungry, and bruised from that semi-final, but that’s exactly what we’re ready for.
“The last couple of years, we’ve kind of been underdogs, but actually, last year and this year we’re not. We can beat those big teams.”
With over 100 games for the Bears, Phoebe Murray made her international debut against USA with the Roses in September. Upon her return to Bristol she said, “it made me just want more and I just wanted to play again and again, I’m so ecstatic, but I want some more now.”
Dave Ward said, “we know what Phoebe’s capable of, I think she went in and played a fantastic game of rugby (for England), I think there’s more to come from her.”
After the 21-29 win against Saracens in last year’s semi-final, the Bears lost the title to Gloucester-Hartpury in the PWR Final. Speaking on lessons learnt from that match, Dave Ward said, “we should have adapted a little bit quicker, that was probably one of the biggest learnings we took out from that game.”
Looking ahead to the battle with Sarries, Ward added; “Gabriella Nigrelli and Rownita Marston-Mulhearn, they complement each other really nicely, and Amber Reed, her range of passing is still some of the best in the league. That’s where your eye is going to be drawn at the weekend.”
Another two to look out for this weekend are the players of the match from last time out at cinch Stadium – high flying wings Millie David and Reneeqa Bonner. Dave Ward said, “They push each other in a really nice way. They want to get quicker, and they go against each other in speed sessions deliberately. It’s great to see as a coach – Millie’s faster over 100 and Ren over 30.”
Reneeqa Bonner scored a hattrick within the first 10 minutes of the game against Loughborough. Phoebe Murray said, “Ren’s got so much potential to be one of the best wingers in the league and in England.
“She’s got a bright future ahead of her. I definitely back her to get the England call up if she keeps playing like she is.”
At Bristol, the one club mentality is strong, and Ward said it’s something they’re proud of, “with the World Cup coming up, it’s going to be huge. We need those male allies to come along because they want to.
“It’s massively important to go in front of the men, to get that enthusiasm, we want to increase our audience. It’s something that the club’s worked extremely hard for.”
Often, the men’s team will be on the side-lines to watch the women. Phoebe Murray said, “some bring their kids and their daughters along to our games which is a really nice thing to see and to showcase that we are one team.”
The double header will give Bears fans a whole day of action. Phoebe Murray said, “I think the goal was to get more fans to come – you get two games for the price of one.
“I think then we can target a different audience as well and showcase what we can do. Just playing in a big stadium, that’s where we deserve to be.”
Dave Ward added, “it’s a huge opportunity for the club, we want every fan to get behind the women.
“We’ve now got to get the product right on the pitch and that’s playing the rugby and inspiring the next generation, all the things we talk about all the time, but now we’ve got to deliver.”
Watch Bristol Bears v Saracens Women live on TNT Sports from 12pm Saturday, 19th October.
