HAT-TRICKS from Alice Denton and Annette Bevan, as well as a maiden try of the season for Meaghan Fowler, helped Reading Abbey Nuns secure their sixth bonus-point win of the season with a 45-14 triumph against Championship Two South West newcomers Portsmouth Valykries.

Abbey got on the front foot almost immediately, with flanker Abi Wall gathering the loose kick-off and the quick hands of inside centre Fern Edgar finding Bevan, who sprinted in for the opening score.

However, it was Portsmouth who scored next, taking advantage of some quick penalty decisions to tap-and-go before crashing over the line.

With the conversion kicked by Susan Badger, the Nuns found themselves trailing 5-7, but Abbey had the final say of the half as prop Jess Potter found Bevan who interlinked well with Denton to grab her brace.

Abbey started to get into gear at the start of the second period, playing some solid phases of play which saw scrum-half Ellie Rice direct play to each side of the pitch, testing Portsmouth's defence before second-row Fowler picked a superb line to cross.

Nuns were now in full throttle and Denton picked a deft line off Bevan to cross for her first try of the day.

Moments later, Bevan completed her hat-trick after a well-timed run off Annabel Hawkins and Denton did so soon after, running in from the half-way line to the roars of the Rosehill crowd.

Abbey head coach Lewis Jones was pleased with the performance and said: "It is great to see everything we have worked on in training come together."