Allianz Premier 15s
Two more catch-up games played over the weekend brought the league nearly up-to-date. Only Wasps’ visit to Durham waits till 3 April.
Both games reached their expected conclusions, Gloucester-Hartpury trouncing DMP Durham Sharks, and Sarries seeing off a spirited Sale side that posted one of the larger totals against the champions, 18 points. And these included one of the tries of the season, completed by Lauren Delany with a delightful chip and chase.
But the recurrent question for all the other nine clubs is: how do you stop Poppy Cleall? She scored a first-half hat-trick, then suffered a second-half injury that forced her off the field. She hopes to be quickly restored; England fans will be hoping the same even more fervently. The Player-of-the-Match award was a formality.
The other Sharks only really came into their game in the second half, when their game-plan extended beyond forward drives of limited scope. It saw their determination reap a reward, Amy Layzell crashing over for Cara Cookland to convert. By my reckoning this was DMP’s second try of the season.
Before and after this success it was one-way traffic in the other direction. Both Jessica Tandy and Ellie Underwood helped themselves to hat-tricks and Zoe Aldcroft exercised captain’s privilege to make two runs on the wing, the first with a perfectly timed inside pass for Underwood to score, the second an escape into open country to go over herself. In Kelly Smith’s unfortunate absence – she was co-commentator for the day – maybe Aldcroft was putting in a claim for her shirt.
Smith awarded the PotM to Tandy, one winger’s praise for another.
Results:
Gloucester-Hartpury 74 DMP Durham Sharks 7
Saracens 47 Sale 18
Table P W L B Pts
Saracens 14 12 2 11 62
Harlequins 14 11 3 12 56
Loughborough 14 11 3 9 53
Wasps 13 9 4 10 46
Exeter 14 9 5 8 44
Glos-Pury 14 7 7 6 35
Bristol 14 4 10 6 22
Worcester 14 4 10 4 21
Sale 14 2 12 2 10
DMPDS 13 0 13 0 0
Officials:
Gloucester-Hartpury v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Ben Simpson and Nathan Howarth
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee: Neil Sweeney
ARs: Tom Bird and Katherine Ritchie
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Italy Decides
Even from this distance the election of Marzio Innocenti as the new president of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) comes as little surprise; his CV made it seem highly likely. He is a former international (42 caps), captaining Italy at the first World Cup in 1987, and active as the President of Veneto for the last eight years.
Innocenti laid out his plans in the run-up to the elections. He placed great emphasis on supporting the women’s game, pointing out how successful the Azzurre had already been while lacking the full support of the FIR.
Of the six Council members elected two are female, Antonella Gualandri and Nicoletta Dalto.
