"Ilona Maher 9/10" – Exeter Chiefs 31 – 41 Bristol Bears: Player Ratings from an all-time classic PWR West Country derby
Yesterday at 04:49 AM
By Jon Page
Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern pulverised Exeter at scrum time in the loose, again demonstrating why they are all such a force to be reckoned with for both Bristol and Exeter in this Premiership Women's Rugby clash. Out wide Ilona Maher's physicality in her first start for Bristol was peerless in the backline, smashing would be tacklers as well as scoring a try and setting up another.
Red Roses fly-half Holly Aitchison kicked off to Exeter at Sandy Park this afternoon, in dry conditions ideal for exciting rugby. Setting the scene for the rest of the game, Sarah Bern won a scrum penalty and Bristol drove themselves up the pitch, with Ilona Maher's first carry breaking the first tackle and making metres with an impressive leg drive.
After some strong carries Bristol sensed the Exeter defence was on the ropes and spun the ball wide, as Phoebe Murray threw a classy dummy before cantering in for the opening try of the match. Although Keria Bevan missed the extras, Bristol had shown their attacking intent early.
After some back and forth in the middle third of the pitch, Exeter forced Bevan to box kick under pressure and she provided the Chiefs an attacking lineout just outside the Bears 22. From the lineout, Exeter centre Liv McGoverne broke the line and showed good strength to score a try, that was duly converted by Canadian Alex Tessier, who really grew into the game around this point. Despite being dominated in almost every area of the game, Exeter were ahead by two points after 17 minutes.
It wasn't until the 22nd minute that Aitchison kicked out of hand for the first time this game, indicating Bristol's desire to run the ball from anywhere. From a Bristol lineout in the Exeter 22, Bears looked to have been held up over the tryline, before the TMO indicated that Mikiela Nelson had sacked the maul from an offside position and Craig Maxwell-Keys, who had an excellent game as referee, jogged to the posts to indicate a penalty try and yellow card for Nelson.
The Bears seemed to smell blood in the water and pressed their advantage, with try scorer Murray breaking the line and giving the ball to her centre partner Meg Varley, who swiftly passed the ball to Reneeqa Bonner, who used her pace to not only run a try in from almost halfway, but to also run half the length of the dead ball zone to score under the posts, to gift Bevan the conversion. Bonner very clearly demonstrating the ability that has earned herself her first call up to the Red Roses.
With the score reading 19-7, Bristol were beginning to build a sizeable lead, so you could forgive them for potentially getting overconfident. In her first start after nine months out with a neck injury, Claudia Macdonald leaped after the restart and stole it from Bristol, gifting valuable field position. With Bristol's defence out of position, Taylor Perry spotted both Bristol props defending the same channel and sped between them, before a sublime sidestep sent her clear of the cover defence to score a try. Tessier knocked over the conversion to bring Chiefs' points tally up to 14 just before the halftime whistle.
After halftime, Bristol receive the kick-off and attempt to play out of their 22. However, a Courtney Keight floated pass, intended for Maher, goes straight into the hands of Macdonald, who slides over for a try with just one minute of the second half played. Tessier misses and so the scores are level at 19-19. Macdonald is wasting no time after her injury lay off, and making sure her average of a try per game for Exeter since 2022 continues.
After two rapid concessions, Bristol needed a score. Maher, in her first start in 15s since 2021 had been a brutal carrier all game, running out shoulders, not space with great success. But she showed her deft touch too, taking the ball at pace, cutting infield and spinning the ball wide to Varley who scored the try that reestablished Bristol's lead. Bevan knocked over a tough conversion and the Bears were ahead by seven.
Maher made a fantastic carry off the ensuing restart, and after driving up the field, the Bristol pack drove the Chiefs over their own line. Craig Maxwell-Keys awarded a second penalty try to Bristol, but did not brandish a yellow card as he could not highlight the key offender. Bristol had some momentum, and when Maher was presented the ball in space, with just one defender in front of her, she bulldozed Perry before scoring a try of her own, in her first start for the club, although Bevan missed the conversion on the angle.
After being outmuscled considerably, Exeter brought on Linde van der Velden into the second row, and she threw herself around, making good headway with ball in hand. Another monstrous carry drew in Bristol defenders and Tessier was able to score in the right corner, although she was unable to convert her own try.
just their second penalty kick attempt of the season, Bristol's Bevan increased their lead by three with a 69th minute penalty.
A few minutes later, from seemingly nowhere, Macdonald ran around Maher and the other Bristol defenders to score a try that showed her international pedigree, before Tessier's conversion kept them in the game with a 10-point margin at the 73-minute mark. Exeter never gave up and found themselves entrenched on the Bristol line for minutes, but ultimately, they come away with just the try bonus point after Macdonald was bundled into touch in the last play.
EXETER CHIEFS: 31
TRIES: 5 (McGoverne 16', Perry 37', Macdonald 41' 73', Tessier 65'
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Tessier 17' 38' 73')
PENALTIES: 0
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Nelson 30')
RED CARDS: 0
15. Alex Tessier 14. Claudia Macdonald 13. Nancy McGillivray 12. Liv McGoverne 11. Kate Buchanan 10. Taylor Perry 9. Flo Robinson 1. Mikiela Nelson 2. Emily Tuttosi 3. Daleaka Menin 4. Poppy Leitch (captain) 5. Dorothy Wall 6. Ebony Jefferies 7. Maddie Feaunati 8. Rachel Johnson
Replacements
16. Cliodhna Moloney 17. Demi Swann 18. Charli Jacoby 19. Linde van der Velden 20. Maisy Allen 21. Lucy Nye 22. Merryn Doidge 23. Georgina Tasker
BRISTOL BEARS: 41
TRIES: 6 (Murray 4', Penalty Try 30' 49', Bonner 35', Varley 44', Maher 56')
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Bevan 36' 45')
PENALTIES: 1 (Bevan 69')
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
15. Courtney Keight 14. Reneeqa Bonner 13. Meg Varley 12. Phoebe Murray 11. Ilona Maher 10. Holly Aitchison 9. Keria Bevan (vice-captain) 1. Hannah Botterman 2. Lark Atkin-Davies 3. Sarah Bern 4. Hollie Cunningham 5. Abbie Ward (captain) 6. Alisha Joyce-Butchers 7. Christiana Balogun 8. Row Marston-Mulhearn
Replacements
16. Jess Sprague 17. Simi Pam 18. Elliann Clarke 19. Delaney Burns 20. Gabriella Nigrelli 21. Tilly Ryall 22. Amy Coles 23. Ella Lovibond
Player Ratings
EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN
15. Alex Tessier – 8
Had a slow start, but improved as the game wore on, and was at the centre of everything good Exeter did. 3/5 kicks from tough angles and a try is a pretty good day at the office.
14. Claudia Macdonald – 8.5
Two well taken tries, as well as her relentless marking of Maher show that the Red Roses flyer is back with a bang. She chased restart after restart as if her life depended on it, even stealing a couple. Will regret not giving a pass with the clock in the red and being bundled into touch but can be forgiven after so long out of the game.
13. Nancy McGillivray – 6
A quiet game for the Chief, although she had her work cut out for her having to assist her wings in trying to nullify the power of Maher and the pace of Bonner.
12. Liv McGoverne – 6
Scored a try from a beautiful line, however her discipline and handling let her down, even though she worked her hardest to shut the door in defence,
11. Kate Buchanan – 6.5
Did not receive much ball but did as best as she could when running into heavy traffic. Did well when dropping back to cover kicks too.
10. Taylor Perry – 7
Marshalled the Exeter attack well and her try was incredibly well taken, getting Exeter back in the game. Will wince at the thought of how far Maher sent her flying as the American went in for her try though.
9. Flo Robinson – 6
Ultimately a very quiet game from the scrum-half, not creating many chances or making any mistakes.
1. Mikiela Nelson – 3
Named on the bench originally, she was quite simply obliterated at scrum time by Bern throughout. A yellow card and a penalty try for her actions at the maul do not help her case, although her work rate in the loose was commendable.
2. Emily Tuttosi – 5
Hit her targets at lineout time, but part of a front row unit that was always going backwards.
3. Daleaka Menin – 4
Part of a poor front row unit, and never really looked competitive against Botterman at set piece.
4. Poppy Leitch (c) – 5
Very quiet game from the skipper, worked hard around the pitch but ultimately part of a tight five dominated by their opposition.
5. Dorothy Wall – 7
Had a quiet first half but burst into life after being shifted to flanker as Chiefs chased a losing bonus point.
6. Ebony Jefferies – 4
Very little impact on the end result, with Wall impressing much more in her time at blindside flanker.
7. Maddie Feaunati – 7
Not a pretty performance but she did the hard work. Against some massive Bristol carriers, she perfected her chop tackles and worked her hardest at slowing down the Bears' ball in attack.
8. Rachel Johnson – 8
The United States international was a constant source of front foot ball in attack and competed hard at the breakdown in one of the few areas Exeter seemed to hold their own.
Replacements
16. Cliodhna Moloney – 7
Brought energy in the loose and hit her targets at lineout time.
17. Demi Swann – 7
Was able to somewhat mitigate Bristol's set piece dominance and carried hard in attack.
18. Charli Jacoby – 7
Like Swann, solidified the scrum and worked hard in the loose.
19. Linde van der Velden – 9
Simply a one-woman army when she came on. Brutal with ball in hand and in defence, the former captain and Dutch international came off the bench with a point to prove and emptied her tank for the cause.
20. Maisy Allen – 6
The young Frenchman didn't have much impact but contributed to a dominant last 20 minutes.
21. Lucy Nye – N/A
Not used.
22. Merryn Doidge – 6
No chance to make a massive impact but was solid in the Exeter's last attacks.
23. Georgina Tasker – N/A
Not used.
BRISTOL BEARS WOMEN
15. Courtney Keight – 5
A very quiet game by her standards, threw a poor pass that was picked off by Macdonald for an Exeter try.
14. Reneeqa Bonner – 7
Needs to go looking for work when the ball doesn't come her way for sustained periods of time, but incredible whenever she was given the ball in attack. Worked hard in defence too.
13. Meg Varley – 7
Really dominated the 13 channel today. A well taken try and soft hands for Bonner's try show her skill level under pressure.
12. Phoebe Murray – 8
A fantastic try to begin proceedings today, before creating the broken field that led to Bonner's try. Dovetailed with Varley really well.
11. Ilona Maher – 9
By no means the complete performance, but incredibly impressive considering how little 15s she has played. Always seems to send the first tackler flying, even if she eventually gets hauled down, she creates space elsewhere. Showed her skills too with a deft pass for Varley's try. In a race against time to prove herself for the United States 15s side with a Rugby World Cup this year, but if she keeps going at this rate she will be in that squad.
10. Holly Aitchison – 8
England's fly-half is always a joy to watch, orchestrating the attack of a side with a terrible injury list with great aplomb. Will have fans biting their nails with her refusal to kick in her own 22 though.
9. Keria Bevan (vc) – 6.5
Two conversions out of six is never a great day at the office, regardless of the final score. Makes up for her kicking accuracy today with her swift delivery and top-level composure.
1. Hannah Botterman – 9
So hard to stop in attack, and part of a dominant front row unit. Continues to grow as a player each season, which bodes well for both Bristol and the Red Roses.
2. Lark Atkin-Davies – 8
Fantastic around the park, at scrums and at lineouts. Simply a fantastic day at the office for Atkin-Davies.
3. Sarah Bern – 10
Maher will grab the headlines, but Bern was the best player on the pitch. Winning three scrum penalties alone in the first half, combined with a workload in attack that any backrow would be proud of earns her player of the match.
4. Hollie Cunningham – 7
Solid at lineout time and in attack.
5. Abbie Ward (c) – 8
Losing the captaincy this season to Dombrandt has seemingly motivated him. A nuisance in the air and at the breakdown and did the hard graft in attack and defence.
6. Alisha Joyce-Butchers – 9
Showed her ludicrous dummy last week for a try in the corner befitting of a back, but this week she showed her blindside flanker credentials. Owning the airways at lineout time, popping up with turnovers at crucial points and always a willing carrier, Joyce-Butchers was a thorn in Exeter's side throughout.
7. Christiana Balogun – 7
Called in last minute for Evie Gallagher from outside the 23, Balogun was everywhere, with a fantastic work rate in attack and defence.
8. Row Marston-Mulhearn – 8
Bristol's primary source of go forward ball in heavy traffic and always needed multiple tacklers to bring her down. A fearsome prospect for Exeter's defenders.
Replacements
16. Jess Sprague – N/A
Not used.
17. Simi Pam – 8
In a game full of massive collisions, Pam's hand off was easily the most brutal. Brought immense energy off the bench.
18. Elliann Clarke – 5
Unable to replicate Bern's heroics at scrum time.
19. Delaney Burns – 7
Really impressive tryline defence in the dying embers of the game.
20. Gabriella Nigrelli – 7
Worked hard and contributed to an aggressive Bears defence in the last few minutes.
21. Tilly Ryall – N/A
Not used.
22. Amy Coles – 6
Contributed quietly to an immense Bears defence.
23. Ella Lovibond – 6
Made up for her dropped high ball with the tackle on Macdonald that won Bears the ball back with the clock in the red.
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