Poole is the star as Bristol Ladies defeat Worcester

Bristol Ladies notched up their second victory in as many weeks when they overcame their Worcester counterparts at Landseer Avenue last weekend.

Full-back Darrel Poole lead the way by crossing for two tries, and landing three conversions, on her way to an impressive 16-point haul.

Worcester took a deserved 12-7 lead into the interval, but Bristol upped the tempo in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points.

Bristol took the lead against the run of play in the sixth minute, when Claire Malloy intercepted a loose pass and sprinted 40 yards to score. But Worcester began to gain the ascendancy and two tries by flanker Heather Fisher, one of which was converted, gave the visitors a five-point buffer at the break.

Bristol made changes at the interval and played with far more urgency. They drew level with Poole's first converted try shortly after the break. Bristol continued to build pressure with their scrum power and aggressive tackling, but Worcester held out until the 79th minute, when quick turnover ball was moved to centre Mo Hunt who scored.

Poole converted and she put the game beyond the visitors' reach with a second try in injury time.

Meanwhile Bristol duo Sophie Hemming and Catherine Spencer have been named in the England women's team to face New Zealand.

England open their autumn campaign with the first of three matches against New Zealand at Esher RFC on Saturday, November 14.

No 8 Spencer will captain the team, while Hemming starts at tighthead prop.