Tyrrells Premier 15s Round Eighteen
Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC 36 – 8 Loughborough Lightning
Gloucester-Hartpury came out on top in the battle for fourth-place in the Tyrrells Premier 15s table as they defeated Loughborough Lightning 36-8 to earn a play-off place.
Hannah Phillip kicked Loughborough into a 3-0 lead early on and on 30 minutes fly-half Natasha Jones powered over to make it 8-0.
Ellie Underwood got the hosts back in it to make the score 8-5 to Loughborough at the break, then in the second half Gloucester-Hartpury got going with a try from Rachel Lund.
Lund then got her second, Underwood completed her double and the icing on the cake came from Kelly Smith and a late penalty try to secure a vital win.
Saracens Women 29 – 32 Harlequins Ladies
It proved to be a real battle between the league’s top two sides as Harlequins defeated Saracens 32-29 to move to the top of the Tyrrells Premier 15s table.
Saracens started strongly, with a penalty try and a Bryony Cleall effort moving them into a 12-0 lead.
But Holly Myers’ double and Davinia Catlin’s try shortly before the break, added to Ellie Green’s earlier penalty, turned the match on its head with Harlequins going into the interval 22-12 ahead.
That lead was stretched further through another Green penalty while Shaunagh Brown scored a try after strong work from the visitors.
But Saracens hit back through a superb effort from winger Emma Uren before the forwards turned up the heat and two late tries, including one for Poppy Cleall, left Harlequins grateful for the final whistle.
Worcester Valkyries 5 – 43 Firwood Waterloo Ladies
Firwood Waterloo Ladies enjoyed their second win of the Tyrrells Premier 15s season with a comfortable 43-5 victory over Worcester Valkyries at Sixways.
The visitors opened the scoring early on with a converted try, but Worcester’s Meg Varley hit back to make it 5-7, as the home side looked for a first win of the campaign.
But from then on Waterloo asserted their dominance with Laura Perrin running onto a nice pass from Danielle Wiseman to take the lead, before Bethany Stott extended it with a penalty.
On 47 minutes, winger Jo Devine ran in for the visitors’ third try, with an assist from Ashleigh Neale.
Neale then turned from provider to try-scorer as she sealed the bonus point for her team, with winger Vanessa Temple scoring twice late to cap off an excellent win for Waterloo.
Wasps FC Ladies 44 – 17 Richmond FC
Wasps produced a blistering second-half performance as they eventually overpowered Richmond 44-17 at Twyford Avenue.
Wasps’ Amy Atkinson scored early for the home side, only for Richmond to hit back through Rowena Burnfield and Gaelle Mignot before Vicki Jackson evened things up for Wasps.
With the scores locked at 10-10 at half time, the first ten minutes of the second half proved decisive, with Atkinson crossing for her second before Louise Dodd stretched the lead further with the fourth home try.
Leading 20-10, Wasps were in control, and they ran in a further four tries through Hannah West, Dodd, Amy Cokayne and finally Tova Derk to cement third spot in the table.
Bristol Ladies 36 – 19 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Bristol Ladies secured their fourth straight Tyrrells Premier 15s home win with 36-19 bonus-point victory over DMP Sharks at Cleve RFC.
Two first half scores from Phoebe Murray and a try courtesy of Claire Molloy gave the hosts a 19-7 lead at the break, after Georgina Robertson scored for the visitors.
Two late tries from Katy Daley-McLean and Kenny Thomas were not enough to bring DMP back into the game as scores from Izzy Noel-Smith and Lillian Stoeger-Goddard before Sydney Gregson wrapped up victory for the hosts in the final minute.
Report courtesy of the RFU
