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The Bristol Cable

Bristol Bears tackle the top spot

The women’s rugby team is having a great season so far, with a new coach, a new training ground and a meteoric rise in the league table.

Photographs: Julian Preece, Instagram @julianpreecephotography

Edition 28
Julian Preece
Julian Preece

In mid-January, the Bristol Bears women’s rugby team was second in the league table behind Saracens in the women’s premiership. This season, they’ve beaten reigning champions Harlequins on their own turf. It’s a meteoric rise for the team who finished eighth last season. 

It might be new coach Dave Ward or the team’s move to a high performance centre in Abbots Leigh shared with the men’s team, but either way the club is putting their best foot forward.

This photo essay shows a recent game against Gloucester-Hartpury in Shaftesbury Park in Frenchay, the Bears’ stomping ground, which ended in a 14-36 loss.

Amber Reed leads the team onto the pitch. Amber co-captains the Bears and is entering her 14th season. She has also played for England no fewer than 58 times.
Quick thinking from Keira Bevan leads to a score. Keira plays for the Wales women’s national team, where she made her debut in 2015. She’s earned an impressive 35 caps in her career so far.
Rownita Marston earned her first England call up in 2019 but she turned down an England contract the following year because she doesn’t have her sights set on being a full-time, professional player.

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