Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby: Round 14 Review

On Friday night Gloucester-Hartpury became the first side to secure a home semi-final with a 57-24 win against Harlequins.

Sale made history on Saturday by playing their first game at Salford Community Stadium and Bristol Bears rounded off the weekend with a historic win over Saracens.

FRIDAY 8 MARCH

Gloucester-Hartpury 57-24 Harlequins - Kingsholm Stadium

Gloucester-Hartpury secured a home semi-final in style beneath the Friday night lights with a nine-try performance against Harlequins.

Finishing the game as 57-24 victors, Wales wing Nel Metcalfe registered a hat-trick at Kingsholm, while Sarah Beckett and Neve Jones scored braces.

Each of Beckett’s scores came in the first half as the current champions weathered an early storm as Shaunagh Brown and Heather Cowell crossed the whitewash, with Maud muir’s fantastic finish helping Gloucester-Hartpury to the lead.

At the break there was added joy for Cherry and Whites fan as they learnt that Red Roses duo Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt and Zoe Aldcroft have both re-signed with the club.

To celebrate, Sean Lynn’s team showed just why two of England’s most prestigious talents had chosen to stay put in the West Country.

Metcalfe scored twice and Pip Hendy once before Connie Powell responded for Harlequins.

Powell would score again before the final whistle, although the encounter was put beyond all doubt as Neve Jones scored her two tries and Metcalfe bagged her third of the evening.

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries: Beckett (2), Muir, Metcalfe (3), Hendy, Jones (2)

Harlequins

Tries: Brown, Cowell, Powell (2)

SATURDAY 9 MARCH

Sale Sharks 10-26 Trailfinders Women - Salford Community Stadium

Kate Zackary struck in just the second minute to get the ball rolling on Trailfinders Women’s 26-10 win over Sale Sharks.

With Ellie Green adding the conversion, confidence was high for Giselle Mather’s team as they added scores for Rosie Inman and Emma Swords before the half-time whistle.

It was a far more competitive second half in Greater Manchester, as Sale resumed the scoring as their lineout maul saw Nick James dot down.

USA international Zackary would score her second of the afternoon to secure Trailfinders’ bonus point and Niamh Swailes’ 79th minute effort was nothing more than a consolation for Sharks.

Sale Sharks

Tries: James, Swailes

Trailfinders Women

Tries: Zackary (2), Inman, Swords

Exeter Chiefs 43-7 Loughborough Lightning - Sandy Park

Susie Appleby’s Exeter Chiefs secured a bonus point victory against Loughborough Lightning on Saturday afternoon to keep themselves well and truly in the play-off race.

It was a close opening 20 minutes at Sandy Park, as Chiefs’ Deleaka Menin and Lightning’s Rachel Malcolm exchanged scores.

Malcolm’s 16th minute score would be the Loughborough’s sole score of the afternoon, with Exeter crossing the whitewash on six occasions before the full-time whistle.

Kanako Kobayashi would and Hope Rogers would have a try each before the midway point, Exeter’s Japan international ultimately registering a hat-trick in the performance.

To mark her 50th appearance in black, Nichola Fryday dotted down in the corner and her Ireland compatriot Cliodhna Moloney also got in on the action with just 11 minutes left on the clock.

Exeter Chiefs

Tries: Menin, Kobayashi (3), Rogers, Fryday, Moloney

Loughborough Lightning

Tries: Malcolm

SUNDAY 10 MARCH

Bristol Bears 35-10 Saracens - Shaftesbury Park

Bristol Bears sealed their first ever league win over Saracens with a 35-10 victory at Shaftesbury Park.

It took just five minutes for the West Country outfit to draw first blood as Phoebe Murray dove over for her first score of the afternoon.

Amber Reed began her perfect day from the tee by adding the extras before Reneeqa Bonner scored for Dave Ward’s side two minutes later.

Saracens hit back through Wales international Georgia Evans as the half entered its latter stages with Zoe Harrison adding the conversion.

Harrison would cut the deficit once again with a penalty on the half an hour mark.

Bears continued to dominate after the break with a quick try from Lark Atkin-Davies followed by another from Murray as the clock marked the final twenty minutes of the game.

The fourth place side grabbed another try at the death through Bonner once again, sealing a historic win at home.

Bristol Bears

Tries: Phoebe Murray (2), Reneeqa Bonner (2), Lark Atkin-Davies

Saracens

Tries: Georgia Evans