WORCESTER Valkyries crashed to a 34-10 defeat against Bristol at Cleve in the Women’s Premiership, writes TOM BRANSTON.

Tries from number eight Shona Powell-Hughes and centre Rachel Lund could not stop Donna Kennedy's side from a comprehensive reverse.

Bristol scored a try within two minutes with a neat move as the ball was quickly recycled from a scrum and Becki Belcher received it to score in the corner.

The hosts were on the front foot with quick attacking play and pressure told as they added a second try through Sarah Bern, with the hard-hitting prop smashing through the defensive line to score and El Snowsill added the extras.

Worcester began to grow in confidence and dominated territory and possession in the Bristol 22.

The hosts' defence held out well until Powell-Hughes received the ball from the ruck and found a gap to give Worcester a way back into the game. Ceri Large narrowly missed the conversion.

From the restart Bristol dominated possession and were awarded a penalty with the visitors penalised for not rolling away.

Snowsill added three points to the score as the hosts went in at half-time with a 15-5 lead.

Bristol started the second-half as they did in the first with high intensity and on the front foot.

A quickly-recycled ball fell to Lottie Holland and the centre looked set to score but Lydia Thompson made a last-ditch challenge to deny her.

However, moments later Bristol extended their lead through Poppy Cleall as the number eight found a way through three defenders to score and Snowsill added the conversion.

Rochelle Clark and Tracy Balmer looked to charge forward but mistakes were the Valkyries' downfall with knock-ons and penalties conceded leading to Bristol adding their fourth try of the game.

Meg Jones capitalised on a quick penalty and ran in from close range with Snowsill adding another conversion.

A lapse in concentration then saw Worcester concede a fifth just moments later when Cat McNaney received the ball out wide from the restart and she ran in to score.

With a convincing scoreline, Bristol took their foot off the gas in the final quarter as Worcester dominated possession.

Lisa Campbell and Dyddgu Hywel caused problems for the defensive line showing their strength crashing through several challenges and late on Bristol's Sarah Graham received a yellow card for consistent infringements at the breakdown.

And Valkyries capitalised after a prolonged period in the Bristol 22 as Lund shoved her way through a challenge to score a consolation try for Donna Kennedy's side.

Valkyries face play-off rivals Saracens Women in the league at Sixways on Sunday (2pm).

Valkyries: Hywel, Mavroudis (Thompson 40), Campbell, Lund, Bree (S Parker 72), Large, Goddard, Powell-Hughes, Clark (Dunn 72), Davies (Robinson 57), Balmer, Haigh (Byrne 57), Gill, O'Donnell, Bunce (Snead 57).