And Lightning and Sharks in Brief
The game started promisingly for Sharks; Claire Gallagher made a fine break, but with support on each shoulder she failed to offer a pass – why, oh why?
Tigers were to create plenty more chances, but only a few reached the line.
Now Zoe Harrison produced the first of several perfect touch-finders. The officials needed a reminder about the 50:22 law. Sarries didn’t hold back.
Tigers, powerful up front and inventive behind, created more chances, but couldn’t profit. They muffed a promising line-out position.
An accurate grubber by Harrison forced Meg Jones to carry over her own line. From an attacking scrum Poppy Cleall picked up, but didn’t attempt a solo run; instead the ball found its way via Leanne Infante into Harrison’s hands; she jinked and was over.
In the opening minutes of this game she had already made John Mitchell’s choice of No 10 infinitely harder. And with Scaz back in armour, who else still makes the Red Roses’ side? 7-0
Now at last Tigers built a promising move. A grubber by Tahlia Brody went straight into Sarries’ hands, but they infringed on contact. Tigers profited; try to Roisin McBrien. 7-7
Sarries now infringed twice, a high then a dangerous tackle, and Tigers went through their repertoire of back moves. Sadly for them, as they approached the line a stray pass under pressure fell into Paige Farrties’ hands. Another chance gone.
We now had a dramatic passage of play. Harrison put in two lengthy clearances, but when a Tiger’s kick was touched by an opponent, Amy Cokayne found herself way in front with the ball in space. She reverted to her No 10 role and pinged the ball into Sarries’ left corner. But now it was Tigers’ turn to offend with a poor tackle.
At the quarter mark Tigers were still level, and Sarries were conceding penalties like an ever-generous Santa Claus. Tigers were causing them real problems, Meg Jones very prominent, but not the sole cause of concern to the home crowd.
Then suddenly Infante – who, you will recall, is the best scrum-half in the country – made an unlikely break down the blind-side, but, to prove my judgement all wrong, punted the ball directly into touch.
An interesting variation: Tigers withdrew both their props inside 30 minutes. International requests may have had a part to play, and, of course, props are always allowed back purely for safety reasons.
But it lent a difference to the game.
It took Sarries an age to re-enter enemy territory, but only Lotte Clapp’s failed grasp at a rolling ball prevented a score. Tigers wilfully delayed a line-out and paid the penalty (details below). After several thrusts May Campbell scored the try her side needed before they came to face with an unimpressed head coach.
Things worsened when Poppy Cleall suffered a head-on-head from Tahlia Brody. To every onlooker’s astonishment it was she who was shown a yellow card. She had allegedly spoken her mind to the referee. Is that the first time in human history that sequence has occurred? There was no TMO present to reassess what happened; a clear instance of how it is needed at every game.
Half-time 14-7
More astonishment straight after. Tigers worked themselves close to the line. At the scrum Brody picked and drove straight over the line through a gap where Cleall might have been waiting. And to think, it was Brody who might have suffered a red card for her high tackle only three minutes of playing time earlier! 14-12
Tigers undid the good work with unforced errors. Sarries profited at once, Infante spotting an invisible gap in a forest of bodies to squeeze through and over. 21-12
On the hour mark Tigers had a line-out on the hosts’ 5-metre line. Everything went to plan – try to Leah Bartlett. Even better, Jones converted from the left edge. 21-19. Cokayne departed the scene on 52 minutes. Sarries were relieved to see her go.
The game now turned into a 7-a-side affair, but with about fifty people on the field; real harum- scarum stuff.
A poweful Sarries scrum saw the ball move via Cleall and Infante to Clapp who had only to fall over the line. 26-19 That was the bonus point assured.
Memo to all Sarries’ opponents: they play an 80-minute game, and today it was to last 83 minutes. Now it was Bryony Field driving over. 33-19
A chip from Harrison caused heaps of problems. Jess Breach, only recently allowed into the fray, was twice involved, and clattered her way over the line to touch down with a spin.
A pause now to allow you to write down England’s starting back-line of seven players against Italy.
Yes, only seven.
Paige Farries, playing full-back today, extended the demolition, as Sarries showed their best form against a tiring defence. 47-19
As the game went past the 80 mark, Cleall had time to drive over close to a post. Yet another late score to prove Sarries’ stirling qualities.
But Tigers’ fans must be heartened by the great form their team showed on a big occasion; they are improving with every outing. Just a pity that, as with the other sides near the basement, they couldn’t squeeze that valuable bonus point out of an entertaining game.
Result: 54-19
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
Lightning v Sharks
This game played out far more predictably. A pity, you might say. Lightning were 21-7 up at the interval, so still had an important target or two to face on the restart. Daisy Hibbert-Jones, their young No 8, already capped by England, revealed an interesting variation on Poppy Cleall’s earlier show by waiting patiently on the wide outside, then beating the last defender as if she was auditioning for the No 14 shirt. But you made your choice higher up my report.
Sadia Kabeya ensured the bonus point within four minutes of the restart. That helped them leap-frog above Quins who had to sit this weekend out.
The visitors’ one redeeming feature was their three tries. Like their fellow sufferers at the wrong end of the table, they are quite capable of producing the goods at the positive end of the pitch. The problem is to keep the defensive dykes from flooding.
Result: 38-15
Afterthoughts
Speeding up the game: on 35 minutes Tigers had a line-out. Nikki O’Donnell complained they hadn’t inserted the number of players they’d announced, four. They had another discussion. Then she told them to advance to their correct position. They took their time, one player not budging an inch. The almost inevitable result, an overthrow, and a try to May Campbell.
Surely, the simplest response is for the ref to give the opposition an immediate free-kick, or, even better, a penalty. The amount of time wasted at line-outs now is indefensible.
It would be fascinating to know what policies Women’s Premier 15 Ltd (WR15 Ltd) is assessing in redressing the balance between north and south. Tigers’ performance against Sarries suggests that there is really only one club left suffering in the league, and they are the solitary one lying north of the Trent. The two newcomers between them have already secured five victories.
Basics: When does PWR propose asking for applications for another new-look league? After the traditional three years or later? These are desperately serious matters. The league is disfigured by the presence of only nine clubs. When does the board consider it appropriate to invite a tenth in? Are Sharks safe? DMP Sharks weren’t when in a similar position last year.
Coverage
The StoneX intro was admirably broad, including a detailed look at Tigers. But once the game got going, we had only a Sarries’ viewpoint from Harry Scott-Munro and especially Flo Williams. This is where we ideally need two voices, one from each side, to fill us in in depth on all 46 players. Example: Sharifa Kasolo commits a high tackle. Comment: ‘Tigers lucky to get out of a tricky position.’ Would a neutral commentator have phrased the situation like that? The two Sarries co- commentators (Flo Williams and Ella Wyrwas) go on to praise Kasolo’s tackling to the skies.
When the PWR next offers full coverage, it would be a kindness if every game was available without payment needed.
Table P W D L Pts
Glos-Pury 12 12 0 0 59
Saracens 11 10 0 1 50
Exeter 12 7 1 4 42
Bears 12 8 0 4 41
Lightning 11 5 0 6 27
Harlequins 11 3 1 7 22
Trailfinders 11 3 0 8 18
Tigers 11 2 0 9 8
Sale 11 1 0 10 3
