Posted Jun 24, 2023 9:49pm ET
Canada’s hooker Emily Tuttosi plays the ball during the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup match against the United States at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, October 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Rugby Canada , Simon Watts, * MANDATORY CREDIT *
Canada international Emily Tuttosi scored in a losing game on Saturday as Exeter Chiefs were beaten 34-19 to Gloucester-Hartpury in the Allianz Premier 15 women’s rugby final.
Canadian star DaLeaka Menin also started for Exeter, who lost the final 43-21 to the Saracens last year. The Chiefs had been hoping for a league-cup double this year after winning the Allianz Cup in May.
Tuttosi scored from a penalty in the 28th minute to give Exeter a 7-5 lead. But Gloucester-Hartpury led 17-7 at half-time and increased their score early in the second half with a penalty try that resulted in winger Claudia MacDonald being penalized for deliberately throwing the ball wide in the end zone had.
Kelsey Jones, Rachel Lund, Sarah Beckett and Lisa Neumann scored tries for Gloucester-Hartpury. Emma Sing took a penalty and converted two.
Liv McGoverne and Ebony Jeffries also scored tries for Exeter. McGoverne and Gabby Cantorna each started a conversion.
The final drew a record crowd of 9,668 spectators.
Gloucester-Hartpury (16-2-0) topped the regular season table before beating Bristol Bears and progressing to the final at Kingsholm Stadium, renamed ‘Queensholm’ for the occasion.
Exeter finished second in the regular season, defeating Saracens in the semi-finals.
Only Saracens and Harlequins had won the English title since the league opened in 2017.
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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 24, 2023
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