PWR Round 10 Preview: Unbeaten Chiefs travel to Trailfinders while Gloucester-Hartpury welcome Saracens

Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears return to action having seen last week's match postponed as the league leaders Chiefs take on Trailfinders Women in Round 10 of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Bristol Bears will hope to strengthen their top four credentials as they take on Sale Sharks in Sunday's only game.

Also on Saturday, Gloucester-Hartpury square off against Saracens while Loughborough Lightning take on Harlequins.

Another round of action 🙌

Here are your fixtures for this weekend, with @LightningRugby facing @HarlequinsWomen LIVE on @rugbyontnt 📺#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/0KaRGN64ra

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) December 9, 2024

Saturday 14 December - Trailfinders Women v Exeter Chiefs – Trailfinders Sports Club, 12pm

League leaders Exeter Chiefs make a trip to the capital looking to extend their perfect record to eight matches against Trailfinders Women.

Chiefs’ contest against Bristol Bears was postponed last weekend, while Trailfinders earned a resounding 31-5 win over Sale Sharks to notch their third victory of the season.

Abi Burton grabbed a hat-trick on her way to being named PWR Player of the Week and she retains her place in the starting XV alongside fellow scorer Abby Dow.

The only change to the line-up sees academy graduate Niamh Gallagher make her first start at full-back alongside Dow and Grace White in the back three.

Chiefs will be ready and raring to go after an extended break and have made only one change to the team that had been named for the match-up with Bears as Taylor Perry comes onto the bench.

🎄 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲!

🎅 Here's how we lineup for our MASSIVE Christmas Double Header!

Click the 🔗 for all the team news: https://t.co/YXMIluJ23E#TFWvEXE | #FollowTheTrail 💚 pic.twitter.com/YS5AtlUHdH

— Trailfinders Women (@TrailfindersW) December 13, 2024

Match Officials

Referee: Holly Wood

Assistant Referees: Frank Venner and Melanie Sutton

Team News

Trailfinders Women: 15 Niamh Gallagher, 14 Grace White, 13 Jess Cooksey, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Abby Dow, 10 Julia Schell, 9 Caity Mattinson; 1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Kat Evans, 3 Cassandra Tuffnail, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Emma Taylor, 7 Abi Burton, 8 Kate Zackary (c)

Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Kie Tamai, 18 Sara Seye, 19 Grace Moore, 20 Rowena Burnfield, 21 Ella Amory, 22 Rosie Inman 23 Annabel Meta

Exeter Chiefs

15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Sabrina Poulin, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Katie Buchanan, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson (vc); 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Poppy Leitch (c), 5 Dorothy Wall, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maddie Feaunati, 8 Rachel Johnson

Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 Mikiela Nelson, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Linde van der Velden, 20 Niamh Orchard, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Taylor Perry, 23 Lori Cramer

Oval Insights

Trailfinders Women

• Abby Dow made the most metres (131) and offloads (four) in Round 9. She and teammate Julia Schell made three line breaks each (1st).
• In her first appearance since October, Abi Burton scored three tries. She also beat as many defenders as any other player (six).
• Trailfinders had the quickest average ruck speed (2.9s) in Round 9; 36% of their rucks were in the opposition 22m (3rd).

Exeter Chiefs

• Liv McGoverne has made the most kicks in play (79) so far this season, totalling 2557 kick metres - over 1km more than the next player. She is one of two players to have kicked two 50/22s.
• Exeter Chiefs have had the best tackle success rate (82.5%) so far this season. They have made 1312 (2nd), and have conceded the fewest tries (2.3) and points (15.3) per game.
• Exeter have averaged the most turnovers won (8.3) per game so far this season. Cliodhna Moloney has won the second-most of all the players (ten).

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 💥

Your Chiefs 23 to take on @TrailfindersW tomorrow ⚔

🗞️ https://t.co/VE25AUJP43

📺Tune in on the livestream! #TFWvEXE | #SheInspires | @rgbrecruitment pic.twitter.com/dKad8qSShS

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) December 13, 2024

Saturday 14 December – Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens – Kingsholm, 2pm

Saracens travel west in search of securing the double over Gloucester-Hartpury, as the two sides meet for what will be an enthralling encounter at Kingsholm.

Sarries edged a 49-38 thriller in October as Alex Austerberry’s side inflicted a big blow to the reigning champions, but the Londoners have lost twice since then to sit second in the table.

The Circus have also tasted defeat since then, at home to Bristol Bears, and both sides will be targeting Saturday’s clash as key to their play-off hopes come March.

Both sides can call on players returning from injury with Lleucu George named in the 23 for the first time since June with Mackenzie Carson also brought into the front row.

Rosie Galligan returns to Saracens' side after recovering from injury, while McKinley Hunt, Sharifa Kasolo and Sarah McKenna are also elevated to the starting XV.

Match Officials

Referee: Mike Hudson

Assistant Referees: Beth Wood and Ryan Collier

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🎪

Your Gloucester-Hartpury 23 to take on @SaracensWomen in PWR Round 10. What a game this is going to be 🔥

🎟️ See you there! https://t.co/Ai068zRFsP

🤝 @CotswoldRAW @VodafoneUK

🍒💫 | #GLOvSAR pic.twitter.com/IhhcBjhyeG

— Gloucester-Hartpury (@gloshartpury) December 13, 2024

Team News

Gloucester-Hartpury

15 Emma Sing, 14 Nel Metcalfe, 13 Pip Hendy, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Mia Venner, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Natasha 'Mo' Hunt (CC); 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sarah Beckett, 5 Zoe Aldcroft (CC), 6 Kate Williams, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews

Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Kathryn Buggy, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Steph Else, 20 Carmen Castellucci, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Ellie Rugman

Replacements

Saracens

15 Sarah McKenna, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Emma Hardy, 11 Fancy Bermudez, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Ella Wyrwas; 1 McKinley Hunt, 2 May Campbell, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Georgia Evans, 6 Sharifa Kasolo, 7 Marlie Packer (c), 8 Gabrielle Senft

Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 Akina Gondwe, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Bryony Cleall, 21 Leanne Infante, 22 Amelia MacDougall, 23 Lotte Sharp

Oval Insights

Gloucester-Hartpury

- Tatyana Heard made more carries (19) than any other player in Round 9. She also assisted a break.

- Emma Sing and Alex Matthews beat six defenders apiece last weekend - more than any other players.

- Maud Muir made nine dominant carries (1st) and 51 post contact metres (1st). She had a 100% gainline success rate (1st) from 13 carries.

Saracens

- Zoe Harrison made three contestable kicks (1st) and three retained kicks (1st). Teammate Emma Hardy made two kicks in play – both were 50/22s (1st).

- Bryony Field had 100% lineout throw success in Round 9 – she threw six from six after just 18 minutes on the pitch.

- Saracens made 15 22m entries (3rd) in Round 9, and averaged 2.5 points per entry (1st). They also conceded the fewest 22 entries (two).

🚨𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠'𝗦 𝗨𝗣💥

🔙 @rosie_galligan returns to starting XV.
🧱 @MC_kennaS at fullback.
4️⃣ changes to starting XV.

Full team news. 👇#YourSaracens💫 | @stonex_official

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) December 13, 2024

Saturday 14 December – Loughborough Lightning v Harlequins – cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens – 3.05pm

Harlequins will hope to continue their impressive run of form when they take on Loughborough Lightning at cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens.

Lightning welcome Quins to the big stage in Northampton in search of a response after tasting defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury at the same venue just six days before.

That followed a narrow loss away at Saracens, and Nathan Smith’s side know they must start picking up points if they are to be in the end of season conversation.

They face a tough task against a Quins side buoyant from six straight victories, including a 22-19 win over Lightning in October.

Quins boss Ross Chisholm has chosen to stick with his winning formula, with no changes to the starting XV that were victorious two weeks ago.

That means World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne lines up at full back, while Jade Konkel continues to captain the team from number eight.

Kildunne's opposite number is Fran Goldthorp who returns from injury while Hallie Taufoou is the only other change for the hosts as she lines up at blindside flanker.

Match Officials

Referee: Charlie Gayther

Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell and Simon Park

💜⚡🩷

🔙 Fran Goldthorp returns
👏 Milestone for Meg Davey
🇺🇸 Hallie Taufoou starts

🎟️ from £7.50*//£3*#LOUvHAR | #PoweredDifferentlyhttps://t.co/cw5WU7fgRP pic.twitter.com/HbbbPmuQVk

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) December 13, 2024

Team News

Loughborough Lightning

15 Francesca Goldthorp, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Alev Kelter, 11 Krissy Scurfield, 10 Helen Nelson (cc), 9 Megan Davey; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Hallie Taufoou, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc)

Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Kendall Waudby, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Carmela Morrall, 23 Lia Green 

Harlequins

15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock,⁠ 13⁠ ⁠ Clàudia Peña, 12 ⁠⁠Lagi Tuima, 11⁠ ⁠Lisa Neumann, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 ⁠Freya Aucken; 1.⁠⁠Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 ⁠⁠Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Kaitlan Leaney, 6 ⁠Nicole Wythe, 7 ⁠⁠Alex Callender, 8 Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Danelle Lochner, 20 Sarah Bonar, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Sarah Parry, 23 Maja Meuller

Oval Insights

Loughborough Lightning

- Isla Curphey played 39 minutes off the bench, beat six defenders (joint-first) and won two scrum penalties in Round 9.

- Lightning made 195 tackles (1st) in Round 9. Sadia Kabeya made the most (26), and Kendall Waudby the second-most (22) - she didn’t miss one.

- Lightning won nine turnovers (1st) in Round 1 - including five tackle turnovers. Lilli Ives Campion and Krissy Scurfield won two apiece (1st).

Harlequins

- Harlequins have won the second-most turnovers (63) so far this season. Alex Callendar has won nine (3rd), and Silvia Turani has won seven - all jackals (2nd).

- Jade Konkel-Roberts has made the most carries into contact (95), dominant carries (36), and second-most post-contact metres (174) so far this season.

- Harlequins have averaged the quickest ruck speed (3s) so far this season; they have had the second-best ruck retention rate (96.5%). They have also had the most team territory (61%).

Your Quins side to take on Lightning ⚡️

📲 https://t.co/PvyAb4l9Qa

📦 Delivered by @DHLRugbyUK#COYQ #LOUvHAR pic.twitter.com/E8uQKEA9D2

— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) December 13, 2024

Sunday 15 December – Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks – Shaftesbury Park, 2pm

Bristol Bears host Sale Sharks at Shaftesbury Park in Sunday’s only fixture, with the Bears chomping at the bit to return to action after last week’s postponement. A mouthwatering clash between Bears and unbeaten Exeter Chiefs was halted by Storm Darragh, meaning Bears’ last result remains their impressive 19-14 win over defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury. That was the third of three wins in a row leading into this fixture against a Sharks side who remain without a win this term. That leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, but a surprise victory away in Bristol would be quite the way to get their tally underway.

Lucy Burgess should finally get to run out for her 100th appearance for Bears after the celebrations were put on ice last week, while Simi Pam comes into the side at loosehead prop.

Rachel Taylor has switched Vicky A Irwin from the centres to full back for Sale Sharks, with Robyn Wilkins coming into to replace Lizzie Duffy at fly half.

There are four changes in the forward pack with Molly Morrissey, Iona Antwis, Amelia Hyndman and Jasmine Hazell all coming into the side.

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Wood

Assistant Referees: Iain Kiy and James Cornell

💯 Second time lucky for @lucyburgess_x
➡️ @simsimpam comes in at loosehead
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @ffionalicelewis joins 🐻 as injury cover

Your team news 🆚 @SaleSharksWomen!#BRIvSAL | #BristolBears

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) December 13, 2024

Team News

Bristol Bears

15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Courtney Keight, 13 Phoebe Murray, 12 ⁠Jenna De Vera, 11 Millie David, 10 ⁠Holly Aitchison, 9 ⁠Lucy Burgess; 1 Simi Pam, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 ⁠Sarah Bern, 4 ⁠Hollie Cunningham, 5 Abbie Ward (cc), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Row Marston-Mulhearn

Replacements: 16 Jess Sprague, 17 ⁠Hannah Botterman, 18⁠ ⁠Holly Phillips, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli, 21 ⁠Ffion Lewis, 22 ⁠Amber Reed (cc), 23 ⁠Amy Coles

Replacements

Sale Sharks

15 Vicky A Irwin, 14 Sophie Hopkins, 13 Rachel Philipps, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Eva Wood, 10 Robyn Wilkins,  9 Sofia Stefan; 1 Detysha Harper, 2 Scarlett Fielding, 3 Nick James, 4 Molly Morrissey, 5 Iona Antwis, 6 Amelia Hyndman, 7 Niamh Swailes, 8 Jasmine Hazell

Replacements: 16 Amber Schonert, 17 Sophie Lewis, 18 Evie Roach, 19 Catie Benson, 20 Katie Moore, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Lizzie Duffy, 23 Nikita Prothero

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🐻 v 🦈

Your Sharks bringing their bite down to Bear Country!#BRIvSAL | #NorthernRugbyMatters pic.twitter.com/T5IpxhTw9x

— Sale Sharks Women (@SaleSharksWomen) December 13, 2024

Oval Insights

Bristol Bears

- Lana Skeldon has the best lineout throw success (94.3%) among the top 10 players with the most throws so far this season; just two lineouts have been lost from 35 throws.

- Millie David is the league’s top try scorer (ten) so far this season. She has made the most initial breaks (17), third-most carry metres (703), and beaten the third-most defenders (31).

- Amber Reed has assisted 20 line breaks and seven tries so far this season - both more than any other player.

Sale Sharks

- Sharks conceded the second-fewest penalties (nine) in Round 9, but the joint-most turnovers (18); 31% of their possessions ended with a turnover (6th).

- Sharks made 115 carries into contact (3rd) at the weekend - 26 were dominant (3rd). They averaged 9.3 metres per possession (3rd).

- Sharks missed the most tackles (39) and made just two dominant tackles (6th) in Round 9; their tackle success was the lowest among the teams (69.2%).