Bristol Bears produced a superb fightback to secure a 24-21 bonus-point win against Loughborough Lightning in a history-making Premiership Women’s Rugby match.
The game at Franklin’s Gardens featured the first all-women PWR team of officials, with Natarsha Ganley refereeing and Rebecca Piddlesden and Emily Hope running the lines.
Bears winger Millie David crossed the line twice to bring her season’s tally to nine and join Saracens hooker May Campbell as the league’s joint-top try-scorer.
After Rachel Ehrecke cancelled out David’s first score, Sadia Kabeya’s try in her first match this year after a minor injury put Lightning 14-5 ahead at half-time.
Lightning captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones’ converted try after the break extended the hosts’ lead to 21-5.
Bears number eight Evie Gallagher received a yellow card for using her hands in the ruck but repaid her side by putting them back in the game.
David scored her second try to further reduce the deficit, before Scotland’s Emma Orr sealed a dramatic victory in the closing stages to complete a fine comeback.
The Bears remain eighth in the table but are now just three points behind Loughborough and Sale following their third win of the season.
