Allianz Premier 15s – Round 14
Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs
An enthralling game at Franklin’s Gardens, a first there for Lightning. Given the result, they may be booking in permanently.
They started with a regulation forwards try, the only variation being the scorer, not Lark Davies but Charli Jacoby. For much of the half Chiefs had the upper hand; Kate Zackary leading from the front to post the first reply. (7-7).
They seemed to be taking full control, but a moment before the break Fran Goldthorp picked a dropped Exeter pass off her bootlaces and ran it in from her own half. So Lightning could go into the warm with an unexpected lead 14-7.
Susie Appleby’s words must have found their mark, because Chiefs returned to the attack, using their heavy artillery. Megan Foster accepted the offer of a kick at goal, a sure sign of a tense match. (14-10)
Shortly after, the centres put Liv Jones away for a gallop to the line. Kanako Kobayashi did the 13’s job perfectly, making the half-break and timing the final pass.
Lark Davies saw yellow, though I didn’t find her action as cynical as the Devonian tweeter did. Foster added a further three. (14-18)
On the three-quarter mark Hope Rogers took a quick tap and was over. (14-23) Despite Helena Rowland’s best efforts, the game was running away from the hosts.
Into the last ten, and the magic of the Prem 15s worked once more. Rowland kicked deep, and Merryn Doidge had problems dealing with it. A Lightning penalty brought them close to the line and Sadia Kabeya made the final touchdown after a series of thrusts.
Lightning were straight back on attack, but time was (apparently) running out. They closed to inside the Chiefs’ 22 in midfield, Then suddenly Kabeya was first receiver from a ruck, running at just under 100 mph. She was through the first line of defence, then held off further attempted tackles to crash over the line, once more under the posts. (28-25)
The ground was in bedlam. The on-screen clock was showing 81, 82, 83 minutes, but Dan Rowlands’ watch had other ideas. Twice Exeter built patient, threatening advances. But when they gained a second penalty, the kick to touch failed to find its mark. Lightning did the job for them and exploded in joy.
A goodly crowd stayed on to see the game after the Saints had performed earlier. That was an important first gain for the Lightning-Saints link-up. But it was still strange seeing keen youngsters in the crowd sporting their green, black and gold favours as the team they were supporting paraded in violet and pink.
Result 28-25
Player of the Match: Sadia Kabeya
Here was Team 6 beating Team 3, an unwelcome blow for the visitors, who take only a losing bonus point from the trip.
Wasps v Bristol Bears
Another perfectly beastly day at Twyford Avenue as Storm Eunice came to visit. The ultra-low score, one try apiece, is a reflection on the weather and the consequent dominance of defence over attack. Mud, mud, glorious mud.
In the final analysis the result turned on a missed conversion by Meg Jones and a more difficult successful one by Amber Reed. She had to move into No 10 in the absence of Elinor Snowsill, but was central to Bears’ control of the match. Her links with her centres and supporting back-rowers placed them well ahead of their opposition.
Wasps will know why they played Harriet Millar-Mills at 4 and Rowena Burnfield at 8, but it wasn’t obvious. RB does most of her damage at close quarters; HM-M has a more all-round game and her presence was missed in broken play.
Maud Muir made her usual contribution inside four minutes, driving over the line; her ninth try of the season.
Six minutes later Reed offered Phoebe Murray a neat switch pass, and the talented Bears centre was through to equalise. Reed’s kick went over from wide out in a howling gale.
For the rest of the game, not a sniff of a score. But it meant tension stayed at boiling-point. Bryony Cleall departed at half-time, but that brought the Wasps’ scrum came under unwanted pressure for the rest of the game and gave the Bears the building-block they needed. They weren’t able to extend the score, but Wasps were rarely in a position to endanger their lead.
Bristol had never beaten Wasps till this season. In their new all-shining guise they’ve achieved a double.
Result: Wasps 5 Bristol Bears 7
Player of the Match: Kayleigh Powell
Wasps
15. Abby Dow, 14. Ellie Boatman, 13. Gemma Rowland, 12. Shannon Touhey, 11. Rosie Wright, 10. Meg Jones, 9. Sammy Wong, 1. Maud Muir, 2. Cliodhna Moloney, 3. Bryony Cleall, 4. Harriet Millar-Mills, 5. Sam Monaghan, 6. Christiana Balogun, 7. Claire Molloy (captain), 8. Rowena Burnfield
16. Heather Kerr, 17. Mica Evans, 18. Kanyinsola Adefemiwa Afilaka, 19. Melanie Combebias, 20. Helene Caux, 21. Lucy Nye, 22. Flo Williams, 23. Jess Cooksey
Bristol
15. Kayleigh Powell, 14. Courtney Keight, 13. Phoebe Murray, 12. Ella Lovibond, 11. Jasmine Joyce, 10. Amber Reed (co-captain), 9. Leanne Infante; 1. China Kill, 2. Hannah West, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Delaney Burns, 5. Abbie Ward (co-captain), 6. Alisha Butchers, 7. Manon Johnes, 8. Rownita Marston.
16. Alice Lockwood, 17. Holly Phillips, 18. Ellie Mulhearn, 19. Talia John, 20. Siwan Lillicrap, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Lucie Skuse, 23. Jenny Hesketh
DMPDS achieved more good things, scoring 17 points against Warriors, much their higheat score of the season and away from home. Huge credit to them.
There was high drama at the StoneX Stadium, but of the wrong sort. There was no stand at Twyford Avenue for the storm to affect, but there was here in north-west London. The Sarries-Gloucester-Hartpury game had to be called off during the morning. This was player safety of a different kind.
Results:
Loughborough Lightning 28 Exeter Chiefs 25
Saracens Gloucester-Hartpury POSTPONED
Wasps 5 Bristol Bears 7
Worcester Warriors 57 DMP Durham Sharks 17
Sunday Match:
Quins v Sale Sharks
Table P W L D Pts
Saracens 13 12 1 0 57
Bristol 14 11 3 0 54
Exeter 14 9 4 1 46
Harlequins 13 9 4 0 45
Loughborough 14 8 6 0 41
Wasps 14 7 5 1 39
Gloucester-H 13 6 7 0 35
Worcester 14 4 10 0 24
Sale 13 1 12 0 7
DMPDS 14 0 14 0 0
Officials:
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs: Rebecca Rees and Nia Parsonage
Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Dan Rowlands
ARs: Reece Riley and Jason Newell
Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Alex Powdrell and Matthew Shepherd
Wasps v Bristol Bears
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Phil Russell and Frank Venner
Worcester Warriors v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Leonie Pryor
ARs: Michael Hurdley and Mark Summerhayes
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Afterthoughts
Now that every club bar DMPDS is affiliated to a Gallagher Premiership club, is it time to wonder whether the structures set up by the men’s elite league are the pattern to follow? The GP is awash with debt. Each passing year offers reports of massive losses faced by clubs. Leading players earn large 6-figure sums.
Tamara Taylor has returned to her old club, DMPDS, one major step since the RFU moved in to assist the club.
Quins reckoned they needed strengthening, so they’ve signed Georgia Bradley from Lightning.
Emily Scarratt might yet appear in the 6 Nations – if selected! Her latest estimate of a return to full working order is 2-3 weeks. In the meantime you can see her statue beside City Hall, Pool of London
