Hampshire women showed their strength to beat a competitive Durham side 43-12 in the Gill Burns Division 2 County Championship final.

They resoundingly defended their title at Twickenham Stadium to become back-to-back county champions.

Hampshire started strongly through full back Abigail Pearson who picked a hole in Durham’s defence and beat her opposite number to dot down. Centre Rose Brown added the extras to give Hampshire the lead after three minutes.

Durham nearly made it over the try line before a thundering try-saving tackle from scorer Pearson.

After a sustained period of Hampshire attack, Brown found a gap to cross the whitewash and she converted her own try to make it 14-0.

Durham got one back through Tamsin Thompson. A tap and go from a 5m penalty was defended by Hampshire but Thompson’s carry from the breakdown couldn’t be stopped. Captain Marguerite Julia converted the try to make the score 14-7.

Hampshire’s third came just before half-time as the forwards punched towards the line and Carol-Ann Tennant picked up from the back of the ruck and drove over. Brown’s conversion hit the posts, so the score remained at 19-7.

Durham struck back seven minutes after half-time. A lovely pass from Jess Clabby to full back Toni Robinson put her in a gap before she threw an inside ball back to Clabby for her try. The tricky conversion was missed, and the score was 19-12.

A long-range penalty attempt from Brown was short, but Durham were offside from the kick’s ricochet. Hampshire took the penalty quickly and whipped the ball across the pitch for Nina Hoadley who stepped the defender to score. Brown made sure with the extras and re-established Hampshire’s 14-point lead.

Substitute Cerys Ralph then showed her pace to zoom down the outside for Hampshire’s fifth of the day. Winger Rebecca Fenn did well to offload to Pearson who then popped the ball for Ralph for her score. Brown converted again to make it 33-12.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, Brown added a penalty to make the score 36-12 and Hoadley scored a try in the final seconds of the game. Brown converted impressively again to crown her team 43-12 Gill Burns Division 2 winner.

Donna Rose, Hampshire forwards coach, said: “I’m very proud of the girls today. On the bounce, we’ve won both. In the first half, Durham really did put it to us. We were a little bit lazy, rolling on the floor and giving them turnovers but in the second half, we came out and our bench was phenomenal.

“These girls are best friends. They eat together after training; they go out for drinks together. Everything they do when they’re in the county season is together which has made us thrive.

“It’s been amazing to play at Twickenham. The girls were a little bit nervous, but they turned it into fuel for their victory. I’m so proud – we’re their coaches but we’re also their friends.”

To see all the results from the County Championship Finals visit EnglandRugby.com or follow @RFU on X to see all the in-play highlights.