This was bound to be an unusual season. The presence of a home World Cup next autumn meant normal structures had to be set aside.
We’ve already seen two rounds the PWR take place, but without so many of the players caught up in three WXV series on three continents. Since several of the nine clubs were suffering double-figure absences, supporters might have feared diminished standards.
Not a bit of it. One of the telling proofs of the league’s current qualities has some managements still turning out squads that know their way around a rugby ball.
One example only: Trailfinders played Loughborough Lightning in Round Two.
Their squad:
1 TAMAI, 2 EVANS, 3 LEAT, 4 E. TAYLOR (captain), 5 PINNOCK, 6 WILLIAMS, 7 BURTON, 8 META, 9 BRADLEY, 10 AMORY, 11 WHITE, 12 COUSINEAU, 13 BOATMAN, 14 INMAN, 15 LAFLIN
– plus two Red Roses and the GB Sevens captain on the bench. Liz Crake, another Red Rose, was a late cry-off. The 23 included fully capped players, Under 20 internationals, GB Sevens players and others called into England’s summer training squads.
Lightning’s line-up was slightly less shiny, but that was due in part to the larger number of players they boasted in national squads busy elsewhere. It helps too to explain the final margin, 64-33.
Like the PWR-UP series that started the season, this was a chance for lesser known club members to make their mark; none more so than TF’s Grace White, who won the Arnold Hill PotM award. Her running has raised many eyebrows.
One recurring feature of scores in the first two rounds is their size. In each there was just one tight game: Quins 7 Chiefs 8, then Quins 18 Glos-Pury 27. Elsewhere attackers had defenders fully stretched. The 97 points scored at Vallis Way must cause worried frowns amongst defence coaches.
Other points from the game
Giselle Mather was in attendance. Nick Heath on commentary confined himself to a single reference: ‘her abrupt departure’. Least said, soonest mended.
Amy Wilson-Hardy was on the bench, reinstated on the club strength after what was termed a thorough investigation.
Neither of these two very disparate matters will be explained by the club’s authorities. But they have managed to rid themselves of the foremost coach in the PWR. A man has replaced a woman in charge of affairs, as has happened several times since the Prem 15s was established in 2017 – at Bristol, Quins and Leicester.
Abby Duguid (Lightning) was given the minimum penalty by a disciplinary committee reviewing her red card for a high tackle.
This weekend’s Round Three fixtures:
19 October
Bristol Bears v Saracens, Ashton Gate, KO noon
Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks, Franklin’s Gardens, KO 14.00
Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs, Kingsholm, KO 15.00
20 October
Leicester Tigers v Harlequins, Mattioli Woods Stadium, KO 17.45
The Bristol match will be shown on TNT.
Since we don’t yet have a tenth club included, it’s Trailfinders’ turn to sit out. There are some frighteningly good players returning to the fray.
The table is of little consequence after only two rounds, but it won’t surprise anyone to see Glos-Pury and Sarries sitting on top and Tigers and Sharks at the bottom.
