After a thrilling opening weekend that provided superb tries, a hatful of points and an upset or two, all eyes were on the second round of the Tyrrells Premier 15s.
And it did not disappoint, with four sides remaining unbeaten and hard-fought rugby played all weekend.
Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC 26 – 22 Wasps FC Ladies
Gloucester-Hartpury may be new to the league but they already look right at home after backing up last week’s win at Darlington Mowden Park Sharks by seeing off Wasps 26-22.
The hosts certainly had to work for it though, with the visitors flying out of the blocks and swarming around the try-line desperate to break through.
It is a testament to Gloucester-Hartpury’s defence that they rode out the storm, and then struck at the other end through Rachel Lund.
Wasps were back in the game immediately through Sarah Mitchelson, but by then the momentum had swung and the hosts were on top.
Hari McCormack and Mitchelson exchanged tries, before Gloucester-Hartpury took the lead through efforts from Kelly Smith and Ceri Large.
Wasps set-up a thrilling finish with two late scores to set the nerves jangling, but time ran out and Gloucester-Hartpury held on.
Worcester Valkyries 10 – 62 Bristol Ladies
Bristol opened their campaign with a narrow lost to Richmond last weekend, but they rebounded in style with a convincing 62-10 win at rivals Worcester Valkyries to claim local bragging rights on Saturday.
The visitors flexed their muscles, scoring ten tries – including a remarkable five for the electric Lillian Stoeger.
Lucy Attwood also shone as she scored a hat-trick, while Cat McNaney and Caity Mattinson crossed too for a rampant Bristol side who clearly sharpened their attack in the build-up to this match.
Worcester, who have now lost both of their opening games, started brightly and led through Zoe Bennion’s try from close-range.
But that was as good as it got for the hosts as Attwood’s darting run from 35 metres opened the floodgates before Stoeger took over.
Bennion added a second to make it 33-10 at the break, but Bristol were too strong in the second half.
Saracens Women 34 – 20 Loughborough Lightning
Saracens kept pace with the early leaders on Sunday as they marched to a comfortable home win against Loughborough Lightening at Allianz Park.
A fast start is key in front of your home supporters, and Saracens certainly made one as captain Lotte Clapp scored in the first minute following a fine team move.
Loughborough did well to ride out the storm and they even levelled the scores, before Sonia Green darted over for the hosts.
Poppy Cleall added a third just before the break and Saracens took control quickly, with influential centre Garnet Mackinder scoring to secure a bonus point.
Loughborough created chances of their own, but Sarries pulled clear again with Cleall adding her second in a 34-20 win.
Richmond FC 27 – 10 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Laura Kapo led from the front as Richmond maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the season with a comfortable win against Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.
Kapo’s hat-trick was the backbone of the team’s 27-10 win at the Athletic Ground, but it was Francesca Hall who got the ball rolling with an early try.
DMP are a tough nut to crack and they rebounded strongly through Heather Kerr’s try, but Rachel Laqeretabau crossed in the corner to regain Richmond the lead.
Kapo’s influence then became key as they put daylight between the two sides, before confirming the bonus point shortly after.
Harlequins Ladies 39 – 18 Firwood Waterloo Ladies
Few players in the Tyrrell’s Premier 15s are more destructive than Jess Breach and the England Under-20s star underlined her undoubted talent with a hat-trick for Harlequins in a 39-18 win against Firwood Waterloo.
Quins are the fourth side to have made an unbeaten start, and they were immense from start to finish against the Liverpudlians.
Breach opened her account with an 80-metre dart with less than a minute on the clock and that set the tone for what was to come.
Eleven minutes later she added a second, but Waterloo hit back in style through Bethany Scott’s try.
But Breach’s pace was too much to handle as she ended another first-phase move by dotting down after a mazy run from half-way.
Leanne Riley and Holly Myers also crossed as the hosts built a large lead, but Waterloo battled to the end and scored a late try from Dani Wiseman.
Report courtesy of the RFU
