Saracens win record fourth title with emphatic victory

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Saracens win record fourth title with emphatic victory

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Saracens: (26) 52

Tries: Omokhuale, Packer 2, Gregson, Breach 2, Corrigan, Harrison Cons: Harrison 6

Trailfinders: (0) 14

Tries: Montiel, Burton Cons: Inman 2

Marlie Packer scored two tries on her final Saracens appearance as the north London side secured a record fourth league title with a comprehensive 52-14 win over first-time finalists Trailfinders at Twickenham Stoop.

Former England captain Packer, who is joining Harlequins next season after nine years with Saracens, grabbed her double in eight first-half minutes as Alex Austerberry’s side dominated their London rivals in the Premiership Women’s Rugby final.

Saracens scored four tries to lead 26-0 at half-time and added four more after the break, with England star Jess Breach’s second-half solo effort perhaps the pick of the scores.

After winning the league – then known as the Premier 15s – in 2018, 2019 and 2022, Saracens overtake Gloucester-Hartpury as the most successful side in English women’s rugby.

Trailfinders, who only joined the league in 2023, beat defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury in back-to-back matches to make the play-offs and then the final.

Trailfinders had never beaten Saracens in eight matches, but Barney Maddison’s side had belief they could end that dismal record given their form since the turn of the year.

But up against the likes of two-time World Cup winner Packer, current world player of the year Sophie de Goede, England’s player of the season Zoe Harrison and the league’s player of the season Olivia Apps, Trailfinders were outclassed in ruthless fashion.

They showed plenty of heart and determination but the gulf in quality was clear as Saracens – who finished 25 points ahead of them in the regular season – claimed a deserved victory to make amends for last season’s final defeat.

Line-ups

Saracens: Breach; Corrigan, Hardy, Bridge, Gregson; Harrison (co-capt), Apps; Clifford, Field, Rose, Omokhuale, Royer, Senft, Packer (co-capt), De Goede.

Replacements: Tremelling, Crake, Flanagan, Evans, Cleall, Sellors, MacDougall, Sharp.

Trailfinders: Inman; Laflin, Jones, Cox, White; Gallagher, Norman-Bell; Leatherman, Ponsonby, Montiel, Wassell, Borland, Head, Zackary (capt), Burton.

Replacements: Blanco, Meta, Tuffnail, Taylor, Malcolm, Williams, Bradley, Gallagher.

Referee: Holly Wood

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