Allianz Premier 15s – Round 16
Wasps v Harlequins
Meg Jones dropped Ellie Green’s kick-off, but it was all part of her cunning plan. She knew her pack would dismantle unfamiliar opponents at the ensuing scrum. From there Wasps dominated nearly all phases of play.
Heather Cowell briefly upset their plans with a fine try that saw her deceive Abby Dow and make it to the line. But that was the signal for Wasps to go into off-loading mode. Since this was linked to fearsome double tackles, Quins saw far less of the ball than expected, Jade Konkel and Sarah Beckett far less prominent than expected.
A fine move that saw the ball expertly shifted from left wing to right allowed Ellie Boatman to add to her haul of tries with footwork and pace. Once more it came from that most dangerous of rugby procedures, the deep kick out of defence. This one fell straight into Dow’s welcoming arms. Later, Bryony Cleall drove over.
Straight after the break Dow banished any worries about a Quins come-back. She skipped out of tackles to score yet another extravagant try.
Quins’ set pieces were inadequate, the line-out reminiscent of New Zealand at Exeter and USA at Worcester. Enough said. Rosie Galligan restored a small measure of pride with a fine burst to the line in the closing moments. It’s Quins’ fifth loss of the season, their first ever to the swarm.
Result: Wasps 30 Quins 14
Player of the Match: Meg Jones
Teams
Wasps
15 Abby Dow, 14 Ellie Boatman, 13 Jess Cooksey, 12 Shannon Touhey, 11 Rosie Wright, 10 Meg Jones, 9 Lucy Nye, 1 Maud Muir, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 Bryony Cleall, 4 Harriet Millar-Mills, 5 Sam Monaghan, 6 Edel McMahon, 7 Claire Molloy (captain), 8 Rowena Burnfield; 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Elizabeth Crake, 18 Morgan Ransley, 19 Melanie Combebias, 20 Helene Caux, 21 Sammy Wong, 22 Flo Williams, 23 Gemma Rowland
Quins
15 Emily Scott 14 Heather Cowell 13 Lagi Tuima 12 Rachael Burford (captain), 11 Freya Aucken 10 Ellie Green 9 Lucy Packer 1 Sheree Cooper 2 Davinia Catlin 3 Shaunagh Brown 4 Fi Fletcher 5 Rosie Galligan 6 Jade Konkel 7 Amelia Harper 8 Sarah Beckett; 16 Rosie Dobson 17 Hannah Duffy 18 Chloe Edwards 19 Sarah Bonar 20 Beth Dainton 21 Georgia Bradley 22 Izzy Mathew 23 Ella Amory
Bristol Bears v Loughborough Lightning
There have been precious few draws in the Prem 15s, but astonishingly the 26-26 draw at Shaftesbury Park was the third to share 52 points. This was an important setback for the Bears, 3 points instead of the expected 5. For Lightning another knock-out place seems beyond reach, but their reply to Bears’ early blasts was valorous.
Two tries in the first three minutes were exactly what every honey-loving creature wanted, both started by the irrepressible Jasmine Joyce, the second finished by her. Lightning had to hold on; knowing they would have the breeze helping them in the second half.
It took yet another utterly astonishing solo run by Helena Rowland to get her team going; she finished close to the posts by taking her own private road there. Bears responded at once, try to Ro Marston who put in another impressive performance. But her pack was finding Lightning a handful, skipper Rachel Malcolm completing good work from a line-out. (26-12)
So the home team had a 14-point advantage at the break. Dave Ward will be concerned that in a hotly contested second half his side failed to score another point.
Up to the three-quarter mark Lark Davies had failed to provide her team with a regulation try. She put the fault right. (26-19) Though the game swung to and fro, it was too often fro for the home supporters’ liking. Indeed on 73 minutes Charli Jacoby claimed the last touch over the line for the visitors. (26-26)
There was an interesting point of law near the end. As Bears looked to claim five home points, Adam Wookey indicated a penalty in front of the posts, a distance out; the game went on. Bears won a second penalty much closer to the line on the far left. They took it, went for a line-out, but the throw was crooked. Chance gone. Might they have been offered the choice of either penalty? Did Wookey say ‘advantage over’? Amber Reed tends not to miss offers like that.
We had the rare sight of Abbie Brown coming off the bench for Lightning. This only adds to the endless mystery of Sevens players’ availability. It was her first appearance for her club this season.
Result: Bears 26 Lightning 26
Player of the Match: Emma Wassell
And elsewhere…
Worcester Warriors almost achieved important away points, but the deadly boot of Emma Sing did for them four minutes from time. In a game shaped like Bristol’s, Gloucester-Hartpury took a two-score lead into the interval. But Warriors fought back to level at 12-12. Their ongoing failure to turn close games in their favour is a concern that refuses to go away.
Yet another thrilling contest in a season of them.
Results:
Exeter Chiefs 90 DMP Durham Sharks 7
Gloucester-Hartpury 15 Worcester Warriors 12
Bristol Bears 26 Loughborough Lightning 26
Wasps 30 Quins 14
Sunday Game
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Table P W L D Pts
Saracens 14 13 1 0 62
Bristol 16 11 4 1 59
Exeter 16 11 4 1 56
Harlequins 16 11 5 0 55
Wasps 16 9 6 1 50
Loughborough 16 8 6 2 46
Gloucester-H 15 7 7 1 41
Worcester 16 4 12 0 24
Sale 15 1 14 0 7
DMPDS 16 0 16 0 0
The Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury match rearranged for 13 March
Afterthoughts
Dates
The Prem 15s now takes a two-month break. You can decide whether you prefer this spring break or the old-style one staged mainly in February. Either way the pause is filled with huge excitement, not only the 2022 Six Nations but the end-stages of the new Allianz Cup, an addition that really benefits clubs during a fallow period for them.
Six Nations Selections
Head coaches have been busy putting the finishing touches to their training squads. Greg McWilliams has already announced his Irish names. Simon Middleton’s verdicts are due on Monday.
For every player these are nerve-racking times; not only another 6N tournament looms, but the chance of a trip to New Zealand to follow. Despite all the commitment shown today, it’s hard to believe any adjustment to long-considered lists will be made as a result of Round 16.
Officials:
Wasps v Harlequins
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: David Watts-Boothby and Mike Woods
Exeter Chiefs v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Ricardo Sant’Anna
ARs: Ben Simpson and Peter Brunt
Bristol Bears v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Adam Wookey
ARs: George Berry and Clare Daniels
Gloucester-Hartpury v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Chris Elliott and Bill Burton
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee: Holly Wood
ARs: Darryl Chapman and Bill Burton
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
