Review: Saracens produce dominant second half with Sharks and Chiefs also soaring

Saracens took the spoils in the first London derby of the season with a roaring PWR Up Series victory against Harlequins at The Stoop.

Meanwhile Sale Sharks clinched their first victory of the season with a win away against Leicester Tigers, while Exeter Chiefs maintained their perfect record with a win over Bristol Bears.

Harlequins 19-45 Saracens - Twickenham Stoop

A punchy second half performance catapulted Saracens to a 45-19 victory against Harlequins.

The visitors saw six tries in the second half propel them to their first victory of the season.

Saracens were on the backfoot to start with as Sarah Parry broke through and dummied inside to score on her first start for Quins, with Ella Cromack adding the extras.

But there was a perfect response for Saracens who replied with a driving maul before ⁠Akina Gondwe charged over for their first score of the game.

The hosts were ahead by just two points but not before Saracens thought they had added a second after a knock-on. Instead, the ball held up and Harlequins took the lead into the break.

Searching for a gap! #YourSaracens💫 #HARvSAR pic.twitter.com/hS0BcoJbp1

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) September 14, 2024

The second half was one-way traffic for Saracens. May Campbell got the side started from the offset, bundling over after five minutes to put her side ahead for the first time at The Stoop.

They continued to thrive from there with perfect precision from Amelia MacDougall chipping through for Isla Alejandro to collect and dart over before Sharifa Kasolo clinched her own.

MacDougall continued to play a pivotal role for her side, converting another two points off the back of a Bryony Cleall try.

Quins soon hit back with two of their own, as Nic Haynes and Lauren Torley both rushed over the whitewash but it all ended the visitor's way.

Alejandro raced clear and found Tori Sellors on her inside for a try before a score at the death from Gondwe sealed the deal.

Harlequins - 19

Tries - Parry, Haynes, Torley

Saracens - 45

Tries - Gondwe (2), Campbell, Alejandro, Kasolo, Cleall, Sellors

What a second half 🤯@SaracensWomen produce a dominant 45 minutes to surge ahead and take the victory at The Stoop 👏#PWR pic.twitter.com/oAnRofGeik

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 14, 2024

Leciester Tigers 14-34 Sale Sharks - Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium

Sale Sharks bounced back from a first round loss to beat Leciester Tigers 34-14 on the road.

A dominant final 10 minutes ahead of the break propelled the northern side to a first victory of this season as Hollie Bawden and Niamh Swailes both crossed twice.

It's a quick start for the hosts, who were witnessing Tom Hudson's first time in charge, as Natasha Jones battled against the Sale scrum to power for the first try of the game.

But just minutes later, Sale replied, with the ball spun wide and Bawden touching down easily in the corner.

Tigers nearly made it two but Nikita Prothero produced a try saving tackle in the corner to deny the hosts from pushing ahead.

With just 10 minutes left of the first half, Sale found their groove as Swailes put the visitors in front.

Bawden collected her brace on 38 minutes, Lizzie Duffy taking the tap and go off the back of a collapsed maul and shipping the ball wide to the winger who dotted down in the corner just one minute before Swailes added her second, running in untouched from 25 metres out under the posts.

Natasha Jones gets the scoring started for @TigersWomens 🤩#PWR https://t.co/k6UbAOeRo4

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 14, 2024

It started the same in the second half as Leicester took the early try from Charlotte Fray until Duffy clinched her own, slicing through the defence to dot down and converting her score.

Bawden was back in action to assist Vicky Irwin, making a crucial break down the wing before passing inside for Irwin to make it 34 for the visitors on the 50 minute mark.

Sale were forced to hold on in a physcial final half an hour of endurance but had already sealed the deal and a rallying Tigers side could not make another dent, ultimately falling at home.

Leciester Tigers - 14

Tries - Jones, Fray

Sale Sharks - 34

Tries - Bawden (2), Swailes (2), Duffy, Irwin

Victory for @SaleSharksWomen 👊

A brilliant win for the visitors to wrap up their PWR Up Series.#PWR pic.twitter.com/ilclmnNgtg

— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) September 14, 2024

Exeter Chiefs 29-17 Bristol Bears - Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs maintained their perfect record in the PWR Up Series with a battling 29-17 win over West Country rivals Bristol Bears at Sandy Park.

It did not take long for the home side to cross the line, with Katie Buchanan storming down the flank to clinch the opening try of the match with little over a minute on the clock.

Spurred on by that early advantage, Chiefs maintained a healthy level of possession but were made to wait for the next score, crossing over in the 27th minute through Maisy Allen, giving the hosts a valuable 12-0 lead at the break.

The visitors responded to their first half deficit with a try which they scored a minute into the second period, Gabriella Nigrelli dotting down off the back off a lineout.

Momentum then continued to favour the Bears as full-back Millie David sauntered her way over the line to even the scores.

With the game hanging on a knife-edge, both teams exchanged blows, with Flo Robinson darting over for the Chiefs before Lydia Thompson got one back for the Bears.

With full-time looming, a draw looked to be on the cards, until Liv McGoverne danced her way over the line to give the hosts the lead with only a minute left.

McGoverne, still not satisfied with her haul, scored another try with the clock in the red to bring up a fifth and final try for the Chiefs.

Exeter Chiefs - 29

Tries - Buchanan, Allen, Robinson, McGoverne (2)

Bristol Bears - 17

Tries - Nigrelli, David, Thompson

Full-time at Sandy Park. Chiefs take the win with five tries to three. See you back in the @ThePWR very soon.

⚔️ 29 - 17 🐻#JoinTheJourney | #EXEvBRI | #PWRUp pic.twitter.com/O6JvlIiPdw

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) September 15, 2024