WORCESTER Valkyries put in a spirited performance but were beaten 32-20 by Bristol in the Women's Senior Cup Plate final at Wootton Bassett.

Bristol dominated possession in the early exchanges and led 20-5 at the interval.

Becki Belcher opened the scoring for Bristol before Jaz Bixley quickly levelled.

Bristol added three more tries before the interval to stretch their lead courtesy of another from Belcher and scores for Phoebe Murray and Brooke Bradley.

Valkyries scored three second-half tries with Helena Bunce, Rhi Donnahey and Ceri Large crossing but a Chantelle Miell brace was enough to earn Bristol the Plate.

Bristol broke down the Valkyries in the opening stages with Belcher strolling in from distance to score in the corner.

Worcester reacted well with Bianca Blackburn's accurate pass allowing Bixley time and space to dive over for a spectacular finish in the far corner.

However, Bristol made the visitors pay as Belcher again crossed the whitewash in similar fashion to her first.

Murray then received the ball out wide before producing a delicate chip over the defensive line which she managed to collect to dive over in the corner.

Bristol notched their fourth try before half-time after dominating at the scrum, as Bradley spotted a gap in the defence to score under the posts.

Bristol led 20-5 at the break and got a fifth try early in the second period as winger Miell stepped through to score and Sarah Graham added the extras.

Worcester were playing some nice rugby and would have felt hard done by to be 27-5 behind, but they didn't roll over.

After enjoying a large spell of possession and territory in the Bristol half, Valkyries capitalised as flanker Bunce found her way over for her first try for the Club, following a well-constructed lineout.

Miell did get her second try for Bristol from close range but it was Valkyries who dominated late in the game.

Lisa Campbell led by example, as the powerful number eight broke through which led to Donnahey scoring in the corner.

Large then added a fourth try after receiving the ball on the Bristol ten-metre line and racing downfield but it wasn't enough to get back into the contest, as Bristol won the Plate.

With the season now over, Valkyries look ahead to next season's  inaugural Super Rugby campaign.