PWR Round 18 Review: Sarries to host Quins as Trailfinders and Chiefs edge thrillers

Saracens will host Harlequins in the Premiership Women's Rugby semi-finals after a convincing win over Sale Sharks sealed second place in the table in a thrilling Round 18.

The final round of the regular season provided two dramatic finishes with Loughborough Lightning and Exeter Chiefs coming out on top.

And it also decided the final semi-final line-up, with Saracens set to host Quins and reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury taking on Bristol Bears in a rematch of last year's final.

Gloucester-Hartpury 52-12 Harlequins, Kingsholm

Reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury will look to make it a hat-trick of titles as they finished the regular season with an impressive win over Harlequins.

Already assured of top spot, the Circus ran in eight tries against Quins to head into the semi-finals on a high.

They started quickly with Mo Hunt breaking the deadlock from close range after a scoreless opening 20 minutes.

That set the home side on their way, with England skipper Zoe Aldcroft next to cross before Neve Jones got the first of two tries to make it 21-0.

"A cherry on a Cherry and White cake!" 🍒

It's a sixth try for @gloshartpury, and Sarah Beckett's first in @ThePWR this season!#PWR #GLOvHAR pic.twitter.com/4nnedVtzX9

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) February 21, 2025

Connie Powell got the visitors on the scoreboard before the break, but Jones added a second to bring up the bonus point.

Mia Venner added a fifth while Sarah Parry hit back with a second Quins try.

But it was Gloucester-Hartpury who finished the stronger with three more tries from Sarah Beckett, Pip Hendy and Steph Else to bring up the half-century.

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries: Hunt, Aldcroft, Jones 2, Venner, Beckett, Hendy, Else

Harlequins

Tries: Powell, Parry

Saracens 66-14 Sale Sharks, StoneX Stadium

Saracens will host Harlequins in the semi-finals after picking up the win they needed to clinch second place against Sale Sharks.

They took control of the game early on, Gabrielle Senft crossing twice, either side of a Louise McMillan score to open up a 21-0 lead.

Finishing with a flourish! 💥⁠ ⁠ #YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/nXyoPQ7H9C

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) February 21, 2025

Sydney Gregson added the bonus-point score on the half-hour before Sharks got their first points of the night through Italy international Beatrice Rigoni.

A 16th try of the season for May Campbell helped Saracens make it 35-7 at the break.

The tries kept coming in the second half, Akina Gondwe, Marlie Packer and Bryony Cleall each getting over to push Saracens past 50.

Sofia Stefan had imitated Azzurre colleague Rigoni with Sale's second try shortly after Gondwe's score.

McKinley Hunt went over for Saracens' ninth before Gregson brought an end to the scoring with her second of the night.

Saracens

Tries: Senft 2, McMillan, Gregson 2, Campbell, Gondwe, Packer, B Cleall, Hunt

Sale Sharks

Tries: Rigoni, Stefan

Loughborough Lightning 36-34 Trailfinders Women, cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens

Helena Rowland's last-gasp drop goal handed Loughborough Lightning a dramatic victory against Trailfinders Women.

In a game that would decide who finished sixth, it was Rowland who clinched it for Lightning after a huge Trailfinders comeback.

Tyson Beukeboom had put Trailfinders in front, only for Kathryn Treder to respond for the home side, quickly followed by an Emily Scarratt score after a searing break by Fran Goldthorp.

8️⃣0️⃣ DROP GOAL!!!!!!!

Rowland lands three points! There’s time for the restart.

⚡36-34 ✈️ pic.twitter.com/HQ8vP5x7iS

— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) February 21, 2025

Rowland got Lightning's third try to make it 19-5 but Trailfinders responded with tries from Rosie Inman and Kate Zackary to trail by just two points shortly after the half-hour.

Treder's second gave Lightning some breathing room before the break and Lilli Ives Campion looked to have made it safe when she scored the home side's fifth on the hour.

But Trailfinders kept coming back, Lisa Thomson and Julia Schell each getting tries before Schell knocked over a penalty to give the visitors a first lead of the night.

That left Lightning six minutes to find a winner, and they got it from Rowland's boot.

Loughborough Lightning

Tries: Treder 2, Scarratt, Rowland, Ives Campion

Trailfinders Women

Tries: Beukeboom, Inman, Zackary, Thomson, Schell

Leicester Tigers 19-24 Exeter Chiefs, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Emily Tuttosi crossed with the final play to give Exeter Chiefs victory away to Leicester Tigers to close out their PWR campaign.

Chiefs had started well with tries from Hope Rogers and Dorothy Wall to lead 14-0.

But Tigers hit back, Roisin McBrien and Claire Gallagher getting over to level proceedings by half-time.

80+3 Chiefs penalty! Off to touch we go. Lineout just inside Tigers' 22. Chiefs are driving in the wet. All the players are in the maul. We score!

🐯 19-24 ⚔️#LEIvEXE | #SheInspires | #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/N9U0bQLxN6

— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) February 21, 2025

Meg Jones gave the home side the lead for the first time 10 minutes into the second half, but Tuttosi responded from close range to make it 19-19.

And after a late Tigers penalty attempt fell short, it was Chiefs who got into position to win it, Tuttosi with her second after a huge effort from the forwards

Leicester Tigers

Tries: McBrien, Gallagher, M Jones

Exeter Chiefs

Tries: Rogers, Wall, Tuttosi 2