Premier 15s: Can Bristol Bears maintain their perfect record to stay top of the table?

All you need to know ahead of the upcoming Premier 15s round

Sarah Rendell
Thursday 30 September 2021 09:16 EDT
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Elinor Snowsill started at 10 for Bristol Bears
Elinor Snowsill started at 10 for Bristol Bears (Getty Images)

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The Premier 15s returns after a weekend break and it will see Bristol Bears look to continue their perfect start to the campaign.

In their last outing they defeated DMP Durham Sharks 115-0 - one of the biggest victories in league history. That gave them their third win from three matches which Dave Ward’s side will seek to turn to four when they face Sale Sharks on Saturday.

The Bears will be favourites heading into the fixture as Sale ae yet to find a win so far and sit in eighth. Ward spoke after the DMP game and said it was a ‘statement’ of intent.

He said: “It was a statement for us. We saw Saracens dominate, Gloucester-Hartpury dominate DMP as well, we wanted to be part of that crew. If we are serious about our top four ambitions we need to make sure we are ruthless in those scenarios which we were.”

The Bears aren’t the only team with a perfect record as Saracens also have three wins from three, only behind Ward’s side due to points difference.

The two-time champions will play Worcester Warriors and it could be a lot closer than fans are thinking as the Warriors almost defeated the side last season. In the 20/21 opener, the west country club lost 35-24 after holding a lead for parts of the match.

Loughborough Lightning will look for their first win of the season as they come up against DMP on Saturday. The side, who finished in the top four last season, have been uncharacteristically off form after being defeated by Harlequins, Saracens and Wasps.

They have lost one of their best players in Emily Scarratt, she broke her leg in the opening stages of the Quins match, but they still have world class stars in their midst who should defeat DMP this weekend.

Meanwhile, defending champions Harlequins will look to get their title defence back on track after they were beaten by Exeter Chiefs. Quins will play Gloucester-Hartpury on Saturday who have had their own strong start to the season with two victories.

And finally, Exeter Chiefs will play last term’s semi-finalists Wasps in what is set to be a tight match on Saturday,

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