Saracens put on a dominant display to beat Trailfinders Women 52-14 in the PWR final at The Stoop on Sunday.
This was Sarries‘ fourth title and the first time since 2022 the outfit which claims to be north London’s original club have secured English rugby’s top-flight crown.
Club legend Marie Packer scored two tries in the first half of her final game in a black and red shirt before she joins the quarters of London rivals Harlequins Women next season.
Red Roses fly-half Zoe Harrison, Julia Omokhuale, Jess Breach, Sydney Gregson and Alysha Corrigan all crossed for scores as well.
Player of the match Omokhuale said: “We’ve been building for this.
“This was the perfect moment to show a combination of everything we’ve been building this season.
“It was a good shift from the girls and a great team effort, everyone did their role.”
After losing to Gloucester Hartpury in the last year’s final, Saracens were seeking redemption.
Their defence was unbreakable, as every player on the pitch effortlessly outplayed their opposition.
Omokhuale said: “To win today shows it’s not just the 23 people on the pitch, it’s the entire squad that showed up day in day out to training.
“It took the full team effort to get here, and I’m grateful for everyone who’s on the team.”
Throughout the ups and downs of the PWR season, Saracens have had many world-class international players in out of their squad selection due to injury, playing in the HSBC SVNS Series as well as the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
PWR player of the year and dual-code Canadian international Olivia Apps said: “At one point I thought ‘is it too much rugby?’ – but I actually don’t think it’s too much rugby.
“I am really proud we got to finish the way we wanted too, because all year we knew we had the ability to do it.
“Every game we’ve been tested in different ways and built confidence in other ways.
“We’ve always had the confidence and the belief that we could do it and that’s what’s going to win you a championship.”
Trailfinders Women were first time finalist since being established in 2023.
The Ealing outfit beat the three-time reigning champs Gloucester Hartpury 26-29 in the semi-finals, and were aiming to cause another upset.
Abi Burton, who scored one of their two tries in the final said: “Ultimately I’m very proud of the season we’ve had, very proud of the last three years we’ve had, but we don’t come into a final to lose.
“It’s something that you have to hold on to but you cant let it define your actions going forward.”
Trailfinders second row Emma Wassle added: “I am gutted with the result, but very proud to have made the final.
“I think we did show some nice rugby out there at times but weren’t ruthless enough when we got to the areas that we needed to be.
“We know what we are capable of, but when you are playing against a side like Saracens you really need to shut them down and I just don’t think we did that enough defensively.”
Feature image: Premiership Women’s Rugby
Join the discussion