Fixtures
Saturday 21 December
Sale Sharks v Loughborough Lightning KO 14.00 (via Global Yo)
Saracens v Bristol Bears KO 14.00 (via YouTube)
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester-Hartpury 15.00
Saturday 28 December
Quins v Leicester Tigers KO 15.00 (TNT)
As you can see, these Christmas jousts are rent asunder, Quins delaying their game a whole week, which rather distorts the nature of a round. Perhaps TNT’s festive schedules are overstuffed with goodies.
Trailfinders sit this one out, which should mean Lightning regain sixth place. Both are merely the leaders of the chasers (table below), but Lightning will be grateful for a very rare five points. It’s high time their season changed course.
There are two outstanding games. First play third at Sandy Park, and fourth play fifth at the StoneX. Glos-Pury may feel a touch more confident as Lleucu George returns at out-half. But her temporary replacement, Ellie Green, used to be the league’s highest points scorer in her Quins days.
Once more the top clubs are playing the extra game: who boasts the most internationals on the bench?
Injuries are mounting up, some of which of can’t be healed with a spoonful of olive oil. But a glance at the starting Fifteens, and you wouldn’t know it. This is another factor in deciding the size of squads; the current regulation is far more generous than it was in past seasons.
There are other commitments too: Ilona Maher, darling of a few million Insta fans, has another dance date in the States, so loyal Bears’ supporters are denied the pleasure of seeing her in action once again.
Bears lie in that non-qualifying fifth place, but they join Exeter Chiefs in having one game in hand. They may need it, as their trip to London is no away-banker. All we know is that Sarries are no longer odds-on trophy winners. They have to strive for every point they earn.
It’s always tempting to compare the status of the men’s and women’s sectors of a club. With Chiefs it’s triumph and disaster: the women unbeaten, the men in freefall, winless after seven rounds. At Sandy Park there’s another chance for you to spot the non-international on the field. Cross fingers.
Next week
The case of Leicester Tigers is far more concerning for the PWR; the men sit third in their league, the women’s only win was at Sale, another winless side. In the return match Quins, just getting out of second gear, beat them 31-17 at Welford Road. Ellie Kildunne hadn’t yet signed her ‘multi-year’ contract. Do you reckon that’s two years or twenty?
Given the cramped season, it’s no surprise that there’ll be at least one PWR match each weekend across the festive break. The next full round is on 4 January.
It’s too early for New Year resolutions, so let’s replace them with pious hopes: it would be nice to
see Tigers and Sharks win every remaining game of the season.
Table P W Pts
Exeter Chiefs 8 8 38
Quins 9 7 35
Glos-Pury 9 6 33
Saracens 9 6 32
Bristol Bears 8 6 30
Trailfinders 9 3 18
Lightning 9 2 13
Tigers 8 1 6
Sharks 9 0 0
