On a day of high scoring there were two shocks to stir the soul.
Results:
Exeter Chiefs 59 Leicester Tigers 27
Harlequins 27 Trailfinders Women 54
Loughborough Lightning 24 Saracens 33
Sale Sharks 27 Bristol Bears 24
The Matches
Harlequins v Trailfinders Women
Within two minutes Abby Dow scored from inside her own 10 metres. Nothing unusual about that, but Quins had been on the front foot and taken the ball into contact. Dow ripped it loose and set off. Just watch her go.
On four minutes TF lost their first line-out, but Megan Barwick charged the clearance down, for Liz Crake to show nimble footwork, and that was TF’s second.
These days a cameraman is allowed to come on to the field and take close-ups of Crake from all angles. A pitch invasion of an unwelcome sort. Times have changed.
TF then conceded a sequence of penalties which allowed Ella Cromack to pot a penalty from in front. (3-12)
The next moment a Quins clearance kick was spun wide across field – the last pass extra long from Dow to Carys Cox – and she ran over half the length of the field too. (3-19)
When Quins tried the same tactic, the handling was less sure, but they were saved by an earlier advantage.
As they drove close to the line, Abi Burton was found guilty of a deliberate knock-on and was shown yellow. Jade Konkel crossed with ease. (8-19)
Another Quins clearance kick almost led to a walk-in bonus-point try for Vicky Laflin, but Sara Cox had spotted a forward pass.
All this TF possession came despite a wonky line-out and a retreating scrum.
It took them 32 minutes to post their try-bonus point. Once more it started from a turnover and finished with Dow at the canter. (8-26)
Now Lagi Tuima showed why she was chosen as her club’s player of the season; with two shrugs of the shoulder she swept past defenders to score a lovely try. Cromack helped the cause with a fine conversion from wide right. (15-26)
As the referee searched for her watch, a defensive kick by Quins was again sprayed across field by the TF backs, only this time it was Julia Schell who completed the job. Ellie Green potted her fourth of five conversion attempts.
Half-time 17-33
On 47 minutes Rachael Burford left the field for the last time, applauded by everyone present, including the officials.
I suspect Giselle Mather had told her team they hadn’t been spreading the ball enough, because now they indulged in an even more adventurous move. Forwards and backs interpassed breathlessly till Elisa Riffonneau, yet another player making her final appearance, went over for a dazzling sixth try. Green obliged. (17-40)
Quins redressed the balance with an unstoppable catch-and-drive. (24-40) Another TF infringement almost brought a repeat success, but Cox spotted a crossing.
On 56 minutes it was Shaunagh Brown’s turn to leave the field, applauded by everyone present, including the officials.
As the changes went on, so did TF’s expansive play. This time they were halted by a holding-on decision six metres from a seventh try.
Dow showed her earlier tries weren’t just beginner’s luck: she fought and sped her way over to post her hat-trick. Green didn’t miss. (22-47)
TF continued to find ways through a porous defence. Another Quins attack finished in Dow’s hands, and this time she kicked a long ball into the opposition half. But now at last the young replacement winger, Katie Shillaker, strode away to give the hosts their own bonus-point. (27-47)
To remind the spectators who was really in charge, Vicky Laflin picked up a long clearance and ran nearly to the line. There she offered a second offload from the ground – the first had given Dow one of her early tries – and Abi Burton was on hand to cross under the posts. Schell completed the scoring to help TF to a remarkable sixth place in the final table (see below).
Result: 27-54 (27 x 2 = ?)
Teams
Harlequins
15 Emily Scott, 14 Jade Mullen, 13 Lagi Tuima, 12 Rachael Burford, 11 Lisa Neumann, 10 Ella Cromack, 9 Lucy Packer, 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Babalwa Latsha, 4 Danelle Lochner, 5 Abbie Fleming, 6 Shaunagh Brown, 7 Amelia Harper, 8 Jade Konkel (captain)
Bench: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Hannah Duffy, 19 Tyla Shirley, 20 Nicole Wythe, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Izzy Mayhew, 23 Katie Shillaker
Trailfinders Women
15 Vicky Laflin, 14 Rosie Inman, 13 Julia Schell, 12 Carys Cox, 11 Abby Dow, 10 Ellie Green, 9 Ella Amory; 1 Liz Crake, 2 Elisa Riffonneau, 3 Andrea Stock, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (captain), 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Megan Barwick, 7 Abi Burton, 8 Kate Zackary
Bench: 16 Amanda McQuade, 17 Kie Tamai, 18 Kira Leat, 19 Rowena Burnfield, 20 Thea Sylvester, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Sam Shiels, 23 Jess Cooksey
Referee: Sara Cox
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
This game had its inevitable result. Tigers’ one consolation was their tally of 27 points including a try-bonus. These stats call into question the soundness of Chiefs’ defensive wall. They could enjoy their nine tries, but next week it will be the other side of the ball that will count as they face G-H in a repeat of last year’s final.
We really have to question Tigers’ progress since they were accepted into the league rather than Wasps or Warriors. Despite the fame of the club name, the management couldn’t attract enough players of the quality needed to hold their own at this level. And now they have lost their head coach.
Teams
Exeter Chiefs
15 Merryn Doidge, 14 Kate Buchanan, 13 Kanako Kobayashi, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Connie Clarke, 10 Alex Tessier, 9 Brooke Bradley, 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Linde van der Velden, 5 Poppy Leitch (captain), 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Maddie Feaunati
Bench: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Hannah Sams, 18 Lizzie Hanlon, 19 Niamh Orchard, 20 Harriet Millar-Mills, 21 Edel McMahon, 22 Taz Bricknell, 23 Robyn Wilkins
Leicester Tigers
15 Amanda Swartz, 14 Tess Feury, 13 Claire Gallagher, 12 Sarah Nicholas, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Natasha Jones (captain), 9 Amy Relf, 1 Jade Jones, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Morgan Richardson, 7 Roisin McBrien, 8 Tahlia Brody
Bench: 16 Alana Bainbridge, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Georgie Grimes, 19 Julia Omokhuale, 20 Becky Noon, 21 Elis Martin, 22 Lucy Nye, 23 Katie Childs
Loughborough Lightning v Saracens
Sarries had beaten Lightning all fourteen times they’d met in their previous encounters. So Alex Austerrberry could field a sort of Sarries-style second XV with only twelve international starters; no Packer, no Cleall, no Wyrwas.
Yet the final margin was only nine points, and the perennial champions had to work desperately hard to finish on top. Chloe Rollie scored two tries for the hosts, but Sarries had Sophie de Goede back at No 8 to make the vital turnovers and breaks that characterise the club in its tougher games. They may read this game as an ideal preparation for the semi against Bears next week.
Lightning can take heart for next season despite the departure of six of their number. But they can’t afford to use the excuse of missing leading players through injury for their fifth place 19 points behind Chiefs. A great club has strength in depth.
Teams
Loughborough Lightning
15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Helen Nelson, 11 Bo Westcombe- Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Meg Davey, 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Abby Duguid, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert- Jones
Bench: 16 Maja Meuller, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Tiwaah Adjei-Ansere, 19 Cath O’Donnell, 20 Hallie Taufoou, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Lia Green, 23 Ellen Scantlebury
Saracens
15 Sarah McKenna (co-captain), 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Paige Farries, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Leanne Infante, 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Louise McMillan, 5 Emma Taylor 6, Georgia Evans 7, Sharifa Kasolo, 8 Sophie de Goede (co- captain)
Bench: 16 May Campbell, 17 Carmen Tremelling, 18 Kesley Clifford, 19 Fi McIntosh, 20. Grace Moore, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Amelia MacDougall, 23 Isla Alejandro
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
Chiefs’ chances of overtaking the Bears in the final reckoning were reduced by one stark fact: Bears had beaten Sharks in their last seven outings. Sharks’ win last weekend was their first since 25 November, when they created one of the big shocks, beating Quins. Bears’ four losses had all come against the other top four sides.
Now came a far greater shock. Sharks won their third game of the season, their second on the trot and their first against one of the Big Four. 15-17 down at the break, they had to wait till the 67th minute to take a winning lead, thanks to a try by Holly Thorpe. The tension over those final moments were hard to bear.
This was much their greatest achievement of a difficult season. For Bears, it ill be tricky finding an excuse for the lowest team total of the afternoon.
Teams
Sale Sharks
15 Vicky A Irwin, 14 Holly Thorpe, 13 Beatrice Rigoni, 12 Laura Perrin, 11 Lauren Delany (CC), 10 Sarah Law, 9 Sian Jones, 1 Detysha Harper, 2 Niamh Swailes, 3 Nick James, 4 Eric Jarrell, 5 Sara Tounesi, 6 Vicky E Irwin, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (), 8 Morwenna Talling
Bench: 16 Amber Schonert, 17 Anne Young, 18 Catie Benson, 19 Elizabeth Shermer, 20 Jo Brown, 21 Jess Taylor-Roberts, 22 Mino Yamamoto, 23 Nikita Prothero
Bristol Bears
15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Phoebe Murray, 12 Holly Aitchison, 11 Ella Lovibond, 10 Amber Reed (co-captain), 9 Keira Bevan, 1 Simi Pam, 2 Rosie Carr, 3 Nicola Beet, 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Abbie Ward (co-captain), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Evie Gallagher, 8 Gabriella Nigrelli
Bench: 16 Rosie Carr, 17 Holly Phillips, 18 Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 19 Hollie Cunningham, 20 Row Marston-Mulhearn, 21 Lucy Burgess, 22 Meryl Smith, 23 Millie David
Final Simplified Table
Pts
Gloucester-Hartpury 76
Saracens 70
Bristol Bears 58
Exeter Chiefs 57
Loughborough L. 38
Trailfinders 29
Quins 29
Sale Sharks 13
Leicester Tigers 10
Note: TF head Quins by virtue of one more victory (5/4)
That offers us two semi-finals:
Sunday 9 June: Saracens v Bears, KO 14.00, StoneX Stadium
Sunday 9 June: Gloucester-Hartpury v Chiefs, KO 16.30, Kingsholm
