Source: Loughborough Lightning

Allianz Premier 15s – Round 12 – Clobber’em in Cobham

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Harlequins v Loughborough Lightning

This was a thrilling match that we were lucky to see at all. Cobham RFC were kind enough to offer their ground for this key 2nd v 4th battle.

It was played at a great pace, with the ball now thrown around airily, now locked tight amongst the forwards. Both sides were short of familiar figures because of injuries and prior calls from international squads and elsewhere. But the standard of play remained high in the cold conditions.

Lightning got on top at the start. Detysha Harper finished off a move of huge pressure on the Quins line by angling back against the grain to go over. (0-7) Quins responded with some dangerous raids, Leanne Riley making the first of several long breaks. But Lightning’s defence held tight.

Instead it was they who struck next with a marvellous try. Becky Noon ploughed a long way through the middle and when the ball came right, Helena Rowland found Abbie Brown with a long pass she couldn’t refuse.(0-12)

Quins had to wait till after the water-break for a riposte. The pack built a strong position, but it needed skill to move the ball to Heather Cowell to complete the job on the wide right.

The game continued at a great pace, long kicks alternating with deft handling movements and forward drives. One of these by Quins was held up on the line, but the referee ordered a penalty from which Hannah Duffy benefited with the final touch.

Half-time: 10-12

At this stage it was impossible to tell who would pull ahead. Perhaps that was a tribute to Lightning, as Quins are used to cementing victories. Indeed they were on top from the restart, winning a position near the line from which Abbie Ward made the vital breakthrough. Now at last Quins were in the lead. (17-12)

There was no scoring either side of the second water-break, but the play was harum-scarum; Lightning in particular were happy to move the ball airily across field in the hope of a mismatch or gap. Daleaka Menin contributed two enormous breaks, but the support couldn’t exploit. She might be in line for a stand-out performance at the World Cup.

Twice the referee decreed ‘held up’ over the Quins line; the hosts were under immense pressure. But it was Loughborough who had to make a big call. Ten minutes left, five points down, and they had yet another penalty in front. The decision was ‘give it to Scaz’, and she duly obliged with three points. (17-15).

With seven minutes left Lightning pressed heavily again, but a knock-on spoiled the effect. No matter; two minutes later yet another 5-metre line-out and this time a pile of bodies crossed the line. Inevitably it was Lark Davies who was the last to reappear above ground level; her 13th try of the session. As the ref raised his arm, all the visiting backs leapt in the air and ran to congratulate their chums up front. Scarratt’s kick from wide right hit the far post but stayed out. Game over.

Result: 20-22

Player of the Match: DaLeaka Menin

Quins will come to their own conclusions at the debrief, but they must wonder how they have managed to lose two successive games by such tiny margins. The topic of discipline may be raised. On at least one occasion the referee reversed his decision after a Quins player took justice into her own hands.

Of course they were missing important components in their machine, but so were the opposition. Morwenna Talling, for example, was missing from combat despite appearing on the team-list the previous day.

The neutral view must be that all is for the best. The league needs the tightest competition; upsets are just what the doctor ordered. Lightning now occupy second position, a great rarity in the history of the league.

Helena Rowland’s all-round performance will have been noted in high places. Once more she showed the full range of her skills.

Other Matches

It is highly encouraging to see the other two games ending with close results. Two losing bonus points out of three indicate the strength of competition.

There was snow in Worcester as the Chiefs had to struggle hard to keep their run going. It needed a final try by Garnet Mackinder to see them home. So near and yet so far for the Warriors. And this was a home game.

Bristol will be mighty relieved to get another win under their belts. But it means that Sale are still looking for a second win to add to their success against the Warriors back in Round 5.

Results:

Bristol Bears 22 Sale Sharks 12
DMP Durham Sharks v Wasps POSTPONED
Harlequins 17 Loughborough Lightning 20
Worcester Warriors 10 Exeter Chiefs 17

Sunday Match

Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury

Table                                P     W     L     B     Pts

Saracens                           10     9      1        9     45

Loughborough                 12     9     3        7     43

Harlequins                       11     8      3        10    42

Wasps                               10       8    2        7      39

Exeter                               12       7    5        6       34

Glos-Pury                        10      5     5         5       25

Bristol                              12      4     8        6        22

Worcester                       12       3     9        4       16

Sale                                  10       1      9        1         5

DMPDS                            9       0      9      0          0

This table includes Saracens’ win over Quins, whose appeal was presumably turned down.

Officials:
Harlequins v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Neil Sweeney and James Pidding

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Referee: Charles Gayther
ARs: Richard Waller and Lloyd Davies

Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Ryan Collier and Callum Watson

Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury
Referee: Sam Phillips
ARs: Hamish Grant and Katherine Ritchie

A Battle against the Weather

As was almost inevitable, the DMPDS-Wasps game fell victim to the extreme cold. Even the new location at Durham University couldn’t hold out.

It was a different story for the Quins-Lightning game. Surrey Sports Park, a ground where the Clerk to the Weather laughs at attempts to play in pleasant conditions, was pronounced unplayable, but Quins got busy and managed to arrange a last-minute switch to Cobham RFC. Our thanks to both clubs and the RFU for pushing this through.

The big freeze joined Covid-19 as a block on progress, and a third feature has affected the disjointed season, availability. Both the Scottish and the Spanish players have returned home to start preparations for the 6 Nations and, they hope, World Cup qualifiers. That brought a number of players back into the ranks who would otherwise have remained unoccupied. It was good to see so many of them playing as if they had been first choices all season. It reveals the depth of talent available across the ten clubs.

Rosewatch

The following Red Roses were not present for Round 12:

Amber Reed
Cath O’Donnell
Claudia Macdonald
Ellie Kildunne
Hannah Botterman (but she did co-commentate!)
Jess Breach
Lydia Thompson
Morwenna Talling
Sarah Beckett
Sarah Bern
Sarah Hunter
Shaunagh Brown
Vickii Cornborough
Zoe Aldcroft