Premiership Women’s Rugby round-up: Saracens claim win over Exeter Chiefs, Loughborough Lightning beat Harlequins
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Updated 13/01/2024 at 23:34 GMT
Saracens were too strong for Exeter Cheifs as they came through 39-26 winners to move six points clear in the Premiership Women’s Rugby league table. There was drama in the match between Harlequins and Loughborough Lightning, who came from 19-0 down to claim an emphatic victory. Elsewhere, Bristol Bears thrashed Leicester Tigers who remain without a win and Gloucester-Hartbury beat Trailfinders.
BARNET, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Leanne Infante of Saracens celebrates with Coreen Grant of Saracens after scoring their team's seventh try during the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby match between Saracens and Exeter Chiefs at StoneX Stadium on January 13,
Image credit: Eurosport
Saracens extended their lead at the top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby table with a 39-26 win over title rivals Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Ella Wyrwas, May Campbell and Sophie de Goede scored first-half tries to cancel out efforts from the Chiefs’ Hope Rogers and Cliodhna Moloney to head into the break with a 17-14 lead.
Saracens then briefly fell behind early in the second half when Claudia Macdonald crossed the line and Gabriella Cantorna subsequently converted.
However, the visitors would only hold their lead for five minutes as Paige Farries finished off a pacy attack sparked by Sydney Gregson.
De Goede missed the conversion this time, but it would not matter as Jess Breach found a way through out of nothing to stretch Saracens' lead to 27-21.
Marlie Packer and Leanne Infante scored in the latter stages to put the hosts in the clear, as Kanako Kobayashi’s 80th-minute try would only be a consolation for Exeter.
The victory for Saracens meant they extended their lead over Exteter to seven points.
In a tight match-up between the seventh and eighth-placed teams, Kathryn Treder scored a 77th-minute try as Loughborough Lightning dramatically edged out Harlequins at the Stoop.
The 29-26 win meant Loughborough moved up to fifth place in the table, overtaking Harlequins and Ealing Trailfinders.
Lightning trailed and stared a heavy defeat in the face with Shaunagh Brown's two tries and Lagilagi Tuima getting across the line earning the hosts a 19-0 lead inside 20 minutes.
Georgina Tasker got Loughborough on the board shortly after and Kathryn Treder hit back just before the break to close the deficit to seven points.
Revitalised following Treder’s effort, Bo Westcombe-Evans had Loughborough within touching distance of the league leaders in the 52nd minute, but Helena Rowland missed the conversion that would have put them ahead.
Hallie Taufoou soon put that right with another second-half try for Lightning as they led for the first time.
Harlequins hit back to regain the lead, but Treder notched her second score of the game to put Loughborough back in front with two minutes on the clock.
Rowland knocked over the conversion as Loughborough sealed a crucial win from behind.
Elsewhere, Bristol Bears thrashed bottom side Leicester Tigers 50-12 to move into fourth spot, while Leicester remain the only team in the league without a win.
Deborah Wills, Megan Varley, Meryl Smith, Delaney, Burns, Holly Aitchison, Tilly Smale and Abbie Ward all chipped in with tries as Bristol scored eight, while Elisabeth Martin and Tahlia Brody scored either side of the break for Leicester.
Gloucester-Hartpury moved above the Chiefs and into second place after a 33-27 victory over Trailfinders, as the latter ended the day sixth following Loughborough’s stunning comeback.
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