Premiership Women’s Rugby: Gloucester-Hartpury clinch play-off place

League leaders Gloucester-Hartpury have secured their place in the Premiership Women’s Rugby play-offs thanks to a comfortable 38-7 win over Leicester Tigers.

The victory, combined with Loughborough Lightning’s surprise 31-22 win over top-four chasing Bristol Bears, means Gloucester cannot be caught by the Bears, who sit in fifth.

Saracens were led by a May Campbell hat-trick as they won 31-17 at local rivals Trailfinders Women to move up to second ahead of Harlequins, who face Exeter Chiefs on Sunday (12:45 GMT).

Gloucester had five different try scorers, plus a penalty try, in their game and are five points clear of Saracens and eight ahead of Quins.

Meg Davies and Carmen Castellucci both crossed before a penalty try left Gloucester 19-0 up at the break.

Leicester scored first in the second half with a length-of-the-field try from Claire Gallagher but Gloucester hit back with Hannah Jones securing the bonus point before replacements Kathryn Buggy and Gillian Boag also crossed.

Krissy Scurfield scored twice for the Lightning, who led 31-12 with 10 minutes to play before Lark Atkin-Davies and Reneeqa Bonner cut their advantage before the end.