The league went up another couple of notches as the top four met in combat in front of large loud crowds.
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Exeter caused a huge upset by becoming the first side to post 50 points on the runaway leaders.
For once the absence of key players did for Sarries: no Cleall, Packer, Harrison, Evans or Rose. The Chiefs’ pack had the upper hand throughout; Sarries had to live off scraps. They could hardly remember the last game they played together, whereas the hosts had lined up their strongest side wherever possible through their advance to a one-sided victory in the Allianz Cup final.
I’m not sure that is how the organisers envisaged the new competition when they set it up, but it meant that Chiefs looked like a well-oiled machine.
Three England-qualified players managed to acquire exit-visas from the Home Office to represent the World XV that is the hosts, and all three, Poppy Leitch, Flo Robinson and Merryn Doidge, played well, Doidge especially.
Sarries were all aggression at the start, Jodie Rettie stepping her way over the line on two minutes.
But that was nearly the end of the good news for them. By half-time Chiefs had ensured the bonus point with four tries, the second, by Doidge, a magnificent solo run from her own half.
Five more tries followed the break as Sarries found themselves in uncharted waters, quite unable to dominate the ball and deny the opposition. Kate Zackary was a fount of possession, Patricia Garcia really enjoyed herself, and Gaby Cantorna hardly missed from the tee.
Just before the end Hannah Botterman showed great heart in completing a second try, but there was still time for Exeter to turn the screw another notch: Cantorna went over to raise the half-century.
The crowd went wild with delight, but the wise heads among them will have realised that a repeat in a hoped-for final is by no means a certainty. Some at least of those big Sarries names will be back to restore Alex Austerberry’s equilibrium.
Result: Exeter 54 Saracens 12
Player of the Match: Patricia Garcia
Bristol Bears v Quins
Quins put Bristol firmly in their place, but couldn’t stop them gaining the one vital point they needed to ensure a first ever semi-final.
Another big crowd turned out at Ashton Gate to cheer the Bears on. This was another game of high quality, test players spread all over the field, only here some of them were English.
Bristol aren’t the first side this season to bewail frailties at the line-out. With Abbie Ward ready to receive, the cause had to lie elsewhere. So confident were Quins that they opted for a line-out of their own, rather than a scrum.
Ellie Kildunne scored their opener after Jess Breach worked the ball back inside. Dave Ward will know why Jasmine Joyce wore 14 but played on the left, facing Heather Cowell, not Breach.
There was imaginative handling by both sides, but handling errors upset the Bears more than the visitors.
No sooner had Rachael Burford left the field (23 minutes) than her pack allowed Amy Cokayne to score a second try. She was to finish with a hat- trick.
On the half-hour Bears at last completed an attack, try to Sarah Bern. A great conversion by Amber Reed. (7-12) But the good work was undone by a wonderful riposte; Cokayne again. (7-22)
After the break Ellie Green, coming on at No 10, took the attack to the opposition. Shaunagh Brown’s try, well converted by Green, made a Bristol comeback look unlikely. (7-29) But no, they added three more tries to raise the fans’ hopes.
The trouble was, Quins could still show magical touches, especially out wide. Breach took advantage of a superb offload by Emily Scott.
All the time we knew the one vital detail for Bears was a fourth try, to gain that extra point. They had to wait till the 77th minute for Manon Johnes to
clinch it, and even then Quins had the nerve to add to their total – Cokayne with her last contribution, after a very patient build-up close to the line.
Result: Bristol 26 Quins 43
Player of the Match: Emily Scott
Elsewhere
Neither Loughborough Lightning nor Wasps could make the big leap to qualify. It was always a long shot, but for both of them to lose by a distance was not on the cards.
Warriors produced the surprise of the day, walloping Lightning to give them only their fifth win of the season. This is exactly the sort of performance Jo Yapp must have been wanting, her team taking on a side placed 21 points ahead of them in the table and showing them the way home.
Gloucester-Hartpury outplayed a depleted Wasps outfit. Wasps were very much the outsiders in the race for a knock-out place and handicapped by a cruel series of injuries, most of all to Claudia Macdonald and Abby Dow. But G-H can be very satisfied with their showing, denying Wasps a sniff till the closing moments when Ellie Boatman went over.
Sale Sharks gained a much needed victory, even if it was a double over the the other suffering Sharks from the north-east.
The AP 15s organising committee will be looking earnestly at the performances of the two clubs this season. Sale obviously have a future but are a constant warning to other clubs hoping to join the elite that it takes a lot of effort to hold your own at this exalted level.
The assistance that the RFU provided for DMPDS a few months ago hasn’t yet borne fruit. At least Maisie James scored a deserved try three minutes from the end.
Results:
Bristol Bears 26 Harlequins 43
Exeter Chiefs 54 Saracens 12 Gloucester-Hartpury 36 Wasps 7
Sale Sharks 57 DMP Durham Sharks 5
Worcester Warriors 34 Loughborough Lightning 24
Table P W L D Pts
Saracens 17 15 2 0 72
Exeter 17 12 4 1 61
Harlequins 17 12 5 0 60
Bristol 17 11 5 1 60
Wasps 17 9 7 1 50
Loughborough 17 8 7 2 46
Gloucester-H 17 8 8 1 46
Worcester 17 5 12 0 30
Sale 17 2 15 0 13
DMPDS 17 0 17 0 0
Officials:
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Jonathan Healy and Simon Adams
Sale Sharks v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Rebecca Rees
ARs: Kieron Henry and Mike Mulroy
Gloucester-Hartpury v Wasps
Referee: Daniel Rowlands
ARs: Ian Bibey and Peter Allan
Worcester Warriors v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Holly Wood
ARs: Dean Richards and TBC
Bristol Bears v Harlequins
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Phil Watters and Jeff Highcock
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
