Another weekend of Tyrrells Premier 15s rugby is over and with it a round full of shocks on a day for the underdogs. Firwood Waterloo Ladies battled to their first win of the season while two of the top three fell to defeat.
For round fourteen stats click here
Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 10-18 Firwood Waterloo Ladies
It was an excellent day in Darlington for Firwood Waterloo, who fought their way to a first Tyrrells Premier 15s win of the season, downing Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 18-10.
The match was always expected to be a tense affair with Darlington Mowden Park Sharks placed eighth in the division and Firwood Waterloo Ladies just one place below in ninth.
Firwood Waterloo’s Katie Jenkins scored a first-half try to keep things close at half-time, with DMP Sharks leading 10-8 at the interval.
At 63 minutes Sarah Beckett led a front-five drive over the try line and Beth Stott’s late penalty put the seal on a memorable Tyrrells Premier 15s afternoon for the north-west club.
Loughborough Lightning 26 – 20 Wasps FC Ladies
Loughborough Lightning survived a late Wasps Ladies onslaught to claim victory in the pursuit of a Tyrrells Premier 15s play-off spot.
The East Midlands outfit started brightly, despite Sarah Mitchelson’s try on 21 minutes for Wasps, with Carys Williams making it 5-5 at the break.
After the interval Loughborough clicked into gear, first through a penalty try and then via scores for Katie Trevarthen and Natasha Jones.
Back came Wasps though with three tries in the final 10 minutes including one for Hannah West, but it wasn’t to be enough and left Lightning to celebrate a second win in as many weeks.
Saracens Women 41 – 0 Richmond FC
Emma Uren scored twice as Saracens Women maintained their position at the top of the Tyrrells Premier 15s table with a commanding 41-0 win over Richmond.
The hosts were in control of the game right from the start when Bryony Cleall looked to have touched down after good work from the home pack, but Richmond were penalised for collapsing the scrum and a penalty try awarded.
Lotte Clapp went over for the second try when she collected Helena Rowland’s perfectly weighted kick before Rosie Galligan made it 17-0 at the break.
The bonus point was wrapped up early in the second half when Cleall crashed over. Two tries from Uren and another form Garnet Mackinder put the gloss on the Saracens victory.
Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC 80 – 0 Worcester Valkyries
Winger Kelly Smith ran in five tries as Gloucester-Hartpury Women put 80 points on Worcester Valkyries without reply.
Ellie Underwood crossed twice in the first half, as did Rachel Lund, with further scores from Smith and Bianca Blackburn giving the home side a 34-0 lead at the break.
In the second half Worcester conceded a penalty try getting the Gloucester-Hartpury scoring going early in the half before Smith and Lund completed their hat-tricks.
Courtney Gill and Ceri Large each grabbed tries of their own but two more scores from Smith in the dying minutes ensured her status as the game’s star turn.
Bristol Ladies 13 – 12 Harlequins Ladies
Bristol Ladies started this match in the top-four chasing pack, level on 37 points with Loughborough and Gloucester-Hartpury and with the perfect opportunity to claw back some ground on Harlequins Ladies.
They achieved that aim with a tense 13-12 victory, surviving a late surge from the travelling London outfit.
The hosts shut out Harlequins in the first-half, going in 8-0 at the break and extending that lead to 13-0 on the hour mark with a backs move finished off in the corner.
Minutes later the visitors got back in it with their first five-pointer and made it a tense finish with a penalty try a minute from time – but crucially were unable to find one more score to put the game to bed.
To view results table from Tyrrells Premier 15s click here
Round 14 Fixture
10 February 2018
14.00 Darlington Mowden Sharks v Harlequins Ladies
Round 15 Fixtures
17 February 2018
13.00 Harlequins Ladies v Worcester Valkyries – Surrey Sports Park
14.00 Saracens Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC – Allianz Park
14.00 Wasps FC Ladies v Bristol Ladies – Wasps FC Club Ground
15.00 Loughborough Lightning v Darlington Mowden Park Sharks – Loughborough Students RFC
18 February 2018
14.30 Richmond FC v Firwood Waterloo – Richmond Athletic Ground
Report courtesy of the RFU
