PWR Round 3 Review: Saracens and Chiefs secure statement away wins as Lightning and Quins pick up first victories

Saracens secured revenge for last season’s semi-final defeat to Bristol Bears with a statement 41-24 win at Ashton Gate in Round 3 of Premiership Women’s Rugby.

Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs scored a breath-taking triumph over Gloucester-Hartpury at Kingsholm, while Loughborough Lightning picked up their first victory of the season against Sale Sharks.

On Sunday, Harlequins eased past Leicester Tigers to claim their first win of the campaign.

𝘼 𝙏𝙄𝙆𝙄 𝙏𝙄𝙆𝙄 𝙏𝙊𝙉𝙂𝘼𝘼𝘼 🎶

Volume 🆙 after that one! 🔊#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/sy9JRbK7f3

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) October 19, 2024

BRISTOL BEARS 24-41 SARACENS – ASHTON GATE

May Campbell and Sydney Gregson both crossed twice as Saracens made it three from three in their quest to regain their PWR crown with a 41-24 success over Bristol Bears.

Having been denied via a double movement moments earlier, Saracens registered their first try of the afternoon through Jemma-Jo Linkins after brilliant strength and vision from Emma Hardy.

Hooker Campbell then crashed over before Bears responded through Millie David on 36 minutes. That wasn’t to be the last action of the half, however, as Gregson muscled over after a powerful surge from Donna Rose to push Sarries 17-7 ahead.

"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨."

It's so good to have @alyshacorrigan back in ⚫️&🔴.#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/WgnKN4Ms1W

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) October 19, 2024

Campbell barrelled over for the first points of the second half to secure Sarries’ bonus point before Lana Skeldon hit back for the hosts.

The gap was cut to just seven when David went over for a second time but two tries in seven minutes from Gregson and Bryony Field ensured the points would be heading back to north London.

Bears did, though, manage a bonus point late on through Amber Reed but it was the dead-eyed Linkins who had the final say with a late penalty.

Bristol Bears:

Tries - Millie David (2), Lana Skeldon, Amber Reed

Saracens:

Tries - Jemma-Jo Linkins, May Cambell (2), Sydney Gregson (2), Bryony Field

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 36-17 SALE SHARKS – CINCH STADIUM AT FRANKLIN’S GARDENS

Bo Westcombe-Evans starred on her return from Red Roses duty as a Loughborough Lightning first-half show set up a comfortable 36-17 victory over Sale Sharks.

Meg Davey glided through a gap in the Sharks defence to kickstart a perfect afternoon for Lightning with a try on four minutes.

The backs then combined beautifully to send Westcombe-Evans over for her first try in the left corner.

Hallie Taufoou was the latest beneficiary of Lightning’s early dominance, barging over from close range on 17 minutes.

𝙅𝙚𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩 ✈️ ⚡️

Bo Westcombe-Evans marked her return from WXV with @RedRosesRugby to score two tries in today’s 36-17 victory over Sale Sharks at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. pic.twitter.com/d0JkbEfCTK

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) October 19, 2024

Sophie Hopkins pulled one back for Sharks with her second try in as many games before the all-important fourth score arrived for Lightning just via Lia Green.

Lightning started the second half just as quickly as they did the first with Evelyn Clarke going over and Westcombe-Evans rewarding fine footwork and an offload by Bulou Mataitoga with a try.

That was it as far as Lightning were concerned as Sharks showed great resolve to finish strongest.

Beatrice Rigoni scored an interception try from all of 50 metres and Iona Antwis powered over late on but there was to be no bonus point for the determined Sharks.

Loughborough Lightning

Tries - Meg Davey, Bo Westcombe-Evans (2), Hallie Taufoou, Lia Green, Evelyn Clarke

Sale Sharks

Tries - Sophie Hopkins, Beatrice Rigoni, Iona Antwis

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY 15-21 EXETER CHIEFS – KINGSHOLM

Exeter Chiefs laid down a marker with a sensational 21-15 victory over Gloucester-Hartpury at Kingsholm.

The Circus scored early on through Carys Williams-Morris as the wing marked her first PWR start with a try.

Prop Mikiela Nelson was also making her first start in the league and announced her arrival with a try on 11 minutes before Liv McGoverne added the extras to push Chiefs ahead.

Clara Nielson then crossed to extend Chiefs’ lead and things threatened to unravel for Gloucester-Hartpury as Gwen Crabb was shown a yellow card.

They did it. A W and four points on the road from Kingsholm!

🍒 15 - 21 ⚔️#GLOvEXE | #PWR pic.twitter.com/eaBrFCHKZn

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) October 19, 2024

But the hosts showed their mettle and led at half-time after a brilliant late turnaround. Amy Dale scored her fourth try in three games to spark her side into life before five points from the boot of Emma Sing edged her side in front at the break.

The intensity went up a notch in the second half and it was Chiefs who struck first with Nelson scoring what proved to be the game’s decisive score on 57 minutes.

Gloucester-Hartpury threw everything at Chiefs late on but Susie Appleby’s side saw out a nerve-shredding finale to claim four priceless points.

Gloucester Hartpury:

Tries - Carys Williams-Morris, Amy Dale

Exeter Chiefs:

Tries - Mikiela Nelson (2), Clara Nielson

LEICESTER TIGERS 17-31 HARLEQUINS – Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Harlequins breezed past Leicester Tigers to hand Ross Chisholm a first win as head coach.

It took just seven minutes for Quins to get up and running as Kaitlan Leaney powered over from close range on her return from WXV action.

Lisa Neumann then leapt out of the defensive the line to intercept the ball inside her own half and run in under the posts.

📸 Snaps from the first half. pic.twitter.com/wojRawUwrY

— Leicester Tigers Women's (@TigersWomens) October 20, 2024

A dream first half was complete when Katie Shillaker showed off her electric pace, beating her opposing winger before stepping inside to score.

The bonus point arrived on 55 minutes when Jade Konkel muscled over from close range but hopes of a clean sheet were dashed when Charlotte Fray got Tigers on the board 20 minutes' from time.

Leaney crossed for her second to make sure of victory before Julia Omokhuale and Katie Childs dotted down late in the game to give Tigers something to build on.

Leicester Tigers:

Tries - Charlotte Fray, Julia Omokhuale, Katie Childs

Harlequins:

Tries - Kaitlan Leaney (2), Lisa Neumann, Katie Shillaker, Jade Konkel