It’s still far too early to make predictions about final outcomes. Though a vast number of WXV players returned to club action, only a select few Red Roses were permitted to join in.
Gloucester fans will claim that made the difference. Susie Appleby had even re-engaged Liv McGoverne at Sandy Park to help New Zealand’s chances at the next World Cup.
Results:
Bristol Bears 24 Saracens 41
Loughborough Lightning 36 Sale Sharks 17
Gloucester-Hartpury 15 Exeter Chiefs 21
Leicester Tigers 17 Harlequins 31
Bristol Bears v Saracens
Sarries showed their intention of regaining the pot. In beating last season’s losing finalists away, they posted their third successive bonus-point win. Though this was a decisive win, questions will be asked in NW4 about the four tries they conceded. That bonus-point was Bears’ reward for competing till the end.
Curiously, Sarries opted for a penalty to close the show. Full-back Jemma-Jo Linkins obliged. Result: Bears 24 Saracens 41
Teams
Bristol Bears:
1 Simi Pam 2 Jess Sprague, 3 Ellie Marston-Mulhearn, 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Delaey Burns 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Gabriella Nigrelli, 8 Rownita Marston-Mulhearn, 9 Lucy Burgess, 10 Amber Reed (captain), 11 Millie David, 12 Meg Webb, 13 Phoebe Murray, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 15 Ella Lovibond
16 Lana Skeldon,17 Issy Jaques, 18 Nicola Beet, 19 Christiana Balogun, 20 Jenny Herring, 21 Keira Bevan, 22 Jenna da Vera, 23 Courtney Keight
Saracens:
1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Fiona McIntosh, 5 Georgia Evans, 6 Joia Bennett, 7 May Campbell (co-captain), 8 Poppy Cleall, 9 Leanne Infante, 10 Amelia MacDougall, 11 Alysha Corrigan, 12 Sarah McKenna (co-captain),13 Emma Hardy, 14 Sydney Gregson, 15 Jemma-Jo Linkins
16 Carmen Tremelling, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Bryony Cleall, 19 Sophie Tansley, 20 Louise McMillan, 21 Ella Wyrwas, 22 Beth Blacklock, 23 Isla Alejandro
Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks
Lightning had the bonus point stowed away well before the break. Does it help having a try- scoring Red Rose in the ranks, straight back from WXV? Bo Westbourne-Evans crossed twice.
The score mounted against the Sharks till Beatrice Rigoni intercepted and ran the distance. Even then the try was not converted. (36-10) A late try by Iona Antwis wasn’t enough to earn Sharks a point. So early results show no change from last season. It will be instructive to see what assistance the PWR board can offer, if any, to the one northern club left in the league.
Result: 36-17
Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Chiefs
At least this game was broadcast free-to-air, via BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Thank you, BBC.
G-H opened the scoring in typical fashion: a long-distance maul led to a try for Carys Williams- Morris (5-0), but this ascendancy wasn’t to last. New Canadian arrival, Mikiela Nelson, celebrated her debut with Chief’s first score.
The visitors stayed in charge with a second try to Clara Nielson 5-14. Then they held G-H out on their own line – a sign of their quality.
It took a lot of work for G-H to gain their second try, through Amy Dale (converted by Emma Sing, the main reason for most spectators’ presence?) 12-14
On the rim of the break G-H opted for a kick at goal. Sing failed to miss. 15-14
Chiefs established an advantage on their return. Charli Jacoby scored the try that regained the lead, and it cost Sisilia Tuinupolu a yellow, just after her appearance. Beth Stafford broke for 30 metres; the crowd roared. It was Flo Robinson’s turn to earn a yellow.
Mikiela Nelson added Chiefs’ third try, but would it prove decisive?
As Tuinupolu returned, G-H regained the initiative, but retaining possession proved hard, pressure being applied on both sides. Indeed, only that Nelson try came in the second 40; G-H’s sole profit a losing bonus point. They visit the StoneX next week.
Result: 15-21
Sunday 20 October:
Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
It wasn’t a runaway victory for the visitors at Welford Road, but another home loss for the Tigers looks worrying for the rest of the season. At some stage they should have Amy Cokayne returning, but will Meg Jones make herself available, or will the call of GB 7s prove stronger? The magnet of a home World Cup may well prove irresistible.
Tigers didn’t get out of second gear till after the break; a gap of 0-19 had opened up and it proved unbridgeable, despite tries from Charlotte Fray, today’s captain, Julia Omokhuale and Katie Childs right at the end.
Quins will be anxious to prove they have put the lean days behind them. Their opponents next weekend at the Stoop are Lightning, who may or may not have a large number of celebrated names returning. Those two clubs found themselves battling for position in last year’s table, but much lower down they would have wished.
Result: Leicester Tigers 17 Harlequins 31
Table P W Pts
Saracens 3 3 15
Exeter Chiefs 3 3 13
Glos-Pury 3 2 11
Trailfinders 2 1 6
Bristol Bears 2 1 6
Quins 2 1 6
Lightning 3 1 6
Tigers 3 0 1
Sharks 2 0 0
Note: Since PWR were unable to secure a tenth club in the league, the number of matches played will remain unequal.
Afterthoughts
An indication of the limitless depth of PWR strength – here are the numbers of test players from the eight clubs on view:
Bristol 8, Exeter 12, Glos-Pury 11, Lightning 11, Quins 15, Sale 9, Sarries 13, Tigers 8
England squad members on show were: Bo Westcombe-Evans, Lilli Ives Campion, Phoebe Murray, Lucy Packer, Kelsey Clifford and Ella Wyrwas. The RFU placed a heavy restriction on the rest of the squad, but many from other nations were freed to play.
Only one game in four is granted a TMO, that is, the one shown live on TNT. There will be no way of telling how unfair that is to the nine clubs across the season, but it is an inconsistency.
At Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, it was £7 to get in; at Epinal Way, Loughborough, it used to be £0. That’s the cost of progress.
How nice to enjoy football pitch markings again at Ashton Gate!
The problems of having a very strong squad: Lea Brebner-Holden (Scotland) leaves Gloucester- Hartpury. She is a product of Hartpury University, but only one of four choices at No 9. The SRU may well have offered its opinion.
