Results, match reports and table
Bristol Bears 0 – 12 Gloucester-Hartpury – Shaftesbury Park
Gloucester-Hartpury held firm at Shaftesbury Park to come away with a 12-0 win over Bristol Bears.
Despite relentless attacking pressure from Bristol, Sean Lynn’s side’s defence remained stubborn in the West Country derby to claim four points on the road.
Sarah Beckett put Gloucester-Hartpury ahead within five minutes of her switch from number eight to second row before Emma Sing added the extras.
A strong carry from Row Marston-Mulhearn got Bristol within inches of the line but Gloucester-Hartpury held firm to send their side into half-time with the advantage.
The visitors doubled their tally in the second half after some patient play through Sing who was fed by Lleucu George spinning the ball wide.
Kelsey Jones was shown a yellow card for dropping the maul in the 61st minute but Bristol Bears failed to capitalise as Gloucester-Hartpury went on to claim a ninth win in 10 games over the home side.
Scorers: Try – Beckett, Sing
Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs – Heywood Road
This fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
Harlequins 0-31 Saracens – The Stoop
Saracens made it three from three against local London rivals Harlequins with a 31-0 victory away at The Stoop.
Tries from May Campbell, Marlie Packer and a Paige Farries brace made the difference as a penalty try inflicted further damage on the scoreline.
After an early injury to new Harlequins recruit Carys Phillips, Campbell burst over the line for Saracens’ opener in the 26th minute from a close-range lineout.
Packer followed in the 36th minute from a solid driving maul and powered over before half time.
In the second half, Paige Farries opened an account to score a first try in a Saracens shirt after latching onto Amelia MacDougall’s cross-field kick.
Ellie Kildunne came close for the hosts at the restart but was stopped in her tracks by Saracens’ defence and they were subsequently awarded a penalty try after relentless attacking pressure.
Farries added the final score for her second as Saracens returned with a bonus-point win on the road.
Scorers: Try – Campbell, Packer, Farries
Leicester Tigers 12-24 Loughborough Lightning – Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium
Two tries each from Bo Westcombe-Evans and Maja Meuller helped Loughborough Lightning to a 24-12 win over Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
As part of a Tigers double-header, Lightning made a dream start with Westcombe-Evans over in the corner after just two minutes with Swedish international Meuller bursting over for the second on the quarter-hour.
She added her second from a rolling maul as Lightning led 19-0 at the break, but Tigers responded with a maul try of their own from Tahlia Brody.
Tigers kept coming, with Amy Relf grabbing an opportunistic score, but another smart finish from Westcombe-Evans brought up the bonus point and made the game safe for Loughborough.
Leicester Tigers
Scorers: Try – Brody, Relf
Loughborough Lightning
Scorers: Try – Westcombe-Evans 2, Meuller 2
With thanks to the PWR
