Canada’s Tuttosi scores in losing cause as Exeter loses English women’s rugby final
By The Canadian Press on June 24, 2023.
GLOUCESTER, United Kingdom – Canadian international hooker Emily Tuttosi scored in a losing cause Saturday as the Exeter Chiefs were beaten 34-19 by Gloucester-Hartpury in the Allianz Premier 15s women’s rugby final. Canadian prop DaLeaka Menin also started for Exeter, which lost last year’s final 43-21 to Saracens. The Chiefs had hoped for a league and cup double this year after winning the Allianz Cup in May. Tuttosi scored at the back of a driving maul in the 28th minute with the conversion giving Exeter a 7-5 lead. But Gloucester-Hartpury led 17-7 at the half and added to its score early in the second half with a penalty try that resulted in wing Claudia MacDonald being sent to the sin-bin for intentionally knocking the ball out of play in the endzone. Kelsey Jones, Rachel Lund, Sarah Beckett and Lisa Neumann scored tries for Gloucester-Hartpury. Emma Sing kicked a penalty and two conversions. Liv McGoverne and Ebony Jeffries also scored tries for Exeter. McGoverne and Gabby Cantorna each kicked a conversion. The final drew a record crowd of 9,668. Gloucester-Hartpury (16-2-0) topped the regular-season standings before beating the Bristol Bears to advance to the final at Kingsholm Stadium, which was rebranded as “Queensholm” for the occasion. Exeter finished runner-up in the regular season, defeating Saracens in the semifinal. Only Saracens and Harlequins had previously won the English title since the league’s inauguration in 2017. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2023 12-11
