CHIEFS GO EIGHT POINTS CLEAR, QUINS WIN THE DUEL, LIGHTNING SECURE DERBY VICTORY, & BEARS GO FOURTH - PWR ROUND 7 REVIEW

Loughborough Lightning secured their second win of the season with an impressive six-try success over Leicester Tigers in Round 7 of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Elsewhere, Bristol Bears bagged a third win in four games at home to Trailfinders Women.

Then on Sunday, Exeter Chiefs made it seven from seven away to Sale Sharks and Harlequins won their fifth match in a row to move second.

Let’s go Lightning ⚡️ #LOUvLEI | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/KSefZPK83L

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) November 23, 2024

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 36-24 LEICESTER TIGERS – CINCH STADIUM @ FRANKLIN'S GARDENS

Loughborough Lightning secured a pulsating 36-24 victory over Leicester Tigers in their derby day clash, claiming maximum points with a dominant display.

Tigers drew first blood in the ninth minute as Tess Feury slotted a central penalty. However, Lightning struck back in style six minutes later. Emily Scarratt’s perfectly timed pass sent Krissy Scurfield over in the corner, leaving the hosts with a 5-3 lead.

Leicester responded swiftly as Meg Jones intercepted on halfway and raced under the posts, with Feury adding the extras to edge Tigers ahead. But Lightning weren’t to be outdone, as Kendall Waudby powered over from close range moments later. Helena Rowland’s conversion restored the hosts’ lead at 12-10.

Match Action 📸 so far from today's Derby Day showdown Northampton. #COYT 🐯 pic.twitter.com/FHUezd5HAk

— Leicester Tigers Women's (@TigersWomens) November 23, 2024

Lightning turned on the style in the 35th minute when Krissy Scurfield’s teasing run created space for Scarratt, who scorched through the defence for a stunning try.

Tigers hit back just before the break with a close-range effort from Tahlia Brody, but Lightning weren’t finished yet. A rolling maul allowed Kathryn Treder to crash over on the stroke of halftime, with Scarratt nailing a tricky conversion to secure the bonus point at 26-17.

The second half saw Lightning maintain their momentum. Alev Kelter marked her return to the PWR with a dazzling try in the 60th minute, finishing off an offload in the right corner. Scarratt’s pinpoint conversion from the touchline pushed the score to 33-17.

Tigers kept themselves in contention with a late try from Catha Jacobs, but Rowland’s assured penalty in the 77th minute sealed Lightning’s derby day delight.

Scorers

Loughborough Lightning:

Tries - Krissy Scurfield, Kendall Waudby, Emily Scarratt (2), Kathryn Treder, Alev Kelter

Leicester Tigers:

Tries - Meg Jones, Tahlia Brody, Catha Jacobs

BRISTOL BEARS 26-7 TRAILFINDERS WOMEN – SHAFTESBURY PARK

Bristol Bears Women battled through challenging conditions to secure a commanding 26-7 victory over Trailfinders Women at Shaftesbury Park.

The Bears struck first in the ninth minute as Emma Orr sliced through the Trailfinders’ defence, dotting down under the posts. Amber Reed added the extras to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Despite several attacking opportunities for Trailfinders, handling errors in wet conditions stifled momentum.

AN ABSOLUTE STORMER 💥@EnglandRugby prop @SarahLily2468 is today's @thatchers_cider Pick of the Match 🍎#BRIvTFW | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/mMGoqXoNaN

— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) November 23, 2024

Relentless pressure from the visitors finally paid off in the 34th minute when Tyson Beukeboom powered over from close range. Emma Taylor nailed the conversion to level the score.

Bristol had a chance to extend their lead before halftime but squandered an opportunity in the corner, but Rownita Marston-Mulhearn scored on the stroke of halftime, giving the Bears a narrow 12-7 advantage.

The second half saw Bristol take control. Sarah Bern extended the lead in the 44th minute, bulldozing over the line after sustained pressure. Reed struck again in the 56th minute, carving through the Trailfinders’ defence to add another converted try.

Trailfinders showed resilience, defending on their line, but struggled to create opportunities. A late yellow card for Chloe Rollie summed up the visitors' frustrations as Bristol finished the match deep in Trailfinders territory, continuing to showcase their strength at home.

Scorers

Bristol Bears

Tries - Emma Orr, Rownita Marston-Mulhearn, Sarah Bern

Trailfinders Women

Tries - Tyson Beukeboom

SALE SHARKS 19-29 EXETER CHIEFS – CORPACQ STADIUM

Exeter Chiefs extended their perfect start to the season by taking maximum points from their trip to the North-West with victory over Sale Sharks.

While the two teams find themselves at opposite ends of the PWR table, this was a close-fought affair with Chiefs eventually having enough to come away with the win.

Detysha Harper had put the home side into an early lead before fellow front-rower Mikiela Nelson responded for Chiefs.

They added two more in the next 10 minutes, Ebony Jefferies and Sabrina Poulin scoring to make it 17-7 to the visitors.

Sale kept battling though, and Lizzie Duffy got over before converting her own score as they trailed by just three points approaching half-time.

The key moment came just before the break, Harper sin-binned for collapsing a maul and giving away a penalty try in the process.

Half-time here at the CorpAcq Stadium. Four tries scored to Sale's two.

🦈 14 - 24 ⚔️#SALvEXE | #SheInspires | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/fJyVYV2b9d

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) November 24, 2024

That 10-point lead was stretched to 15 by Katie Buchanan when she got over 10 minutes into the second half, with Chiefs well on their way to five points.

Sale did not concede again, and had the final say with a third try from Holly Thorpe but it was too little too late.

Scorers

Sale Sharks:

Tries – Detysha Harper, Lizzie Duffy, Holly Thorpe

Exeter Chiefs:

Tries – Mikiela Nelson, Ebony Jefferies, Sabrina Poulin, Penalty try, Katie Buchanan

SARACENS 14-15 HARLEQUINS - STONEX STADIUM

Beth Wilcock’s two tries helped Harlequins stage a 15-14 win over fierce London rivals Saracens at StoneX Stadium.

Both sides struggled to find rhythm in the early stages as the swirling wind and heavy rain added an extra challenge to The Duel.

However, Quins got the first points on the board 22 minutes in. Claudia Pena was able to hand-off Marlie Packer before kicking the ball towards the corner, which Wilcock chased and touched down to open the scoring.

With the wind at their backs, Quins tried to press home their advantage and gained territory deep into Saracen’s 22 as half-time approached.

That pressure finally paid off when Lizzie Hanlon went over from close range, after Harlequins built up phases and finally found a way past the stubborn Saracens defence.

Despite a yellow card for Wilcock at the end of the half, the hosts did not make their advantage count and Wilcock made them pay 15 minutes after returning to the field.

Driving through the Saracens defence into the opposition half, the wing finished off the move she started by scoring in the corner to make it 15-0.

A monstrous maul from Saracens just minutes later reduced the deficit when May Campbell touched down by the posts and Zoe Harrison converted with ease.

Harrison then went over herself moments afterwards, with her second conversion meaning that just one point separated the two teams with less than 10 minutes to play.

In spite of Saracens' second half fightback, it was Quins who shouted loudest at full-time and moved second in the league table.

Scorers

Saracens

Tries - May Campbell, Zoe Harrison

Harlequins

Tries - Beth Wilcock(2), Lizzie Hanlon