Two storming encounters
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester-Hartpury
This was the game that altered the shape of the season. G-H came, saw and conquered. The fortress was stormed to such an extent that the Chiefs leaked over 40 points. To their credit they replied with two late tries, which will soften their misery an iota, but after eleven rounds of endeavour they finally came unstuck.
It was Gloucester’s power up front that did the damage; for all the emphasis laid on open play, this is where the game has to start. For the first time this season, the famed Chiefs pack came off second best.
Twice Chiefs might claim they were over the line, but twice the referee opted for ‘held up’. The second was scarcely credible. Hope Rogers was just hauled down; she fed Dorothy Wall who seemed to crash over the line. No try!
Mia Venner made her presence known with two early tries, as Chief’s defence proved strangely fallible. Quite against the run of play. Pip Hendy had the second, on the end of a long flowing move to the left edge. The third, to Bethan Lewis, was all deft handling, a delight to watch. Hendy’s second was odd; the entire world came to a halt, bar Hendy and Joe James. Totally dominant, G-H ran Chiefs ragged; Venner with her second all alone under the posts.
A half-time tally of 0-29 told a stark tale. The second 40 went better, only to the extent that Chiefs mounted two late tries, both through the pack; Maddie Feaunati and Charli Jacoby responsible.
To counter the gloom, Chiefs had two welcome news items: Claudia Macdonald was seen on a rugby field again! And the attendance was an encouraging 2,304.
Passport Control: Chiefs sent seven English players on at the start; G-H eleven. This result offers a new perspective on the rest of the season.
Result: Exeter Chiefs 12 Gloucester-Hartpury 41
Saracens v Bristol Bears
A tremendous game, played in miserable conditions
Bears started smartly and continued like that for a period. A throw-in to the front of the line was clever. They won two penalties, creating pressure. Then a huge scrum brought a deserved try for Row Marston-Mulhearn. 0-7
Now came a remarkable sequence – Bears had to be patient clearing their lines. When the ball did spread, Holly Aitchison found a gap and was away, accompanied (how?) by Sarah Bern. She ran right into Sarries’ 22; it needed Alysha Corrigan to pull her down. But Bears had gained a penalty. Much worse, the ref felt in his pocket and Zoe Harrison, on her 100th club appearance, was sent sent off to seek the dry.
Bears pressed again. When the ball came out Phoebe Murray almost jinked over and Abby Ward finished the job. 0-10
There was a worrying moment when Marlie Packer left for an HIA, but fortunately she returned.
Sarah McKenna, now playing 10, kicked Sarries up to Bears’ line for a first visit. A clinical line-out saw May Campbell open their account, still one player down. (7-14) McKenna gained a 50-22 to add to her conversion. Memo, the weather was returning to normal – foul.
A smart Sarries line-out, and McKinley Hunt profited. A wonderful Harrison kick levelled matters. 14-14, and only a quarter of the match gone.
On the half-hour a player launched herself into the open and sprinted under the posts. It wasn’t one of the dozens of wingers touted for a place in the England side, it was Kelsey Clifford. 21-14
It was time for Lark Atkin-Davies to put things right, and she did. 21-19.
An action-packed half had seen six tries, but the margin was a bare two points. All to play for.
Second half
Harrison’s kick didn’t travel ten metres; was this a portent?
The Sarries’ scrum was suffering, Bears pushing them so far back that the referee reminded the home backs they needed to retreat if the next scrum retreated. Things ain’t what they used to be.
But significantly Bears failed to profit from a line-out 12 metres out, and when they shoved another scrum towards the Sarries’ line, the ref penalised them for lifting! A real let-off. Still, it was all Bears now. On 59 minutes Akina Gondwe, only just on, saw yellow.
At last the intense pressure told. Bears finally sent the ball out; Aitchison found Jas Joyce- Butchers, and she slid through. (21-24)
At once Bears’ carelessness put them at risk. They ran the ball around in front of their posts and Bern couldn’t hold an inaccurate pass. Botterman was off, so could Sarries exploit? Yes! Their new star left-winger was there to dot down, Harrison! 26-24
Once more Bears worked their way out of defence by pick and goes. It was slow work, but luckily they won a penalty and Aitchison cleared long. It called into question their defensive game-plan. In these conditions one kick from England’s first-choice No 10, and they could have operated from midfield.
We had a third yellow, this time for a Simi Pam high tackle. As the wind whipped up, Lucy Burgess sent a wild pass into nowhere, and Bears were on their uppers. They failed to clear again and Campbell dived through bodies for her second. 33-24
As the game moved into the 82nd minute, Bears were on the attack and gained a penalty in front. They couldn’t win, but they could gain a vital losing bonus. A long wait for an injury to Burgess, then Aitchison potted for goal. She missed.
Result 33-24
The weather had restricted ball movement, denying the wide backs the chance to show their wares. A pity.
The result leaves Bears four points short of a play-off position – attainable in a single match, but far better to be four ahead.
Sale Sharks v Loughborough Lightning
I’m sorry to report that Sale reach Christmas with not a single point to celebrate. They can play some decent rugby, but only wins carry the day.
Every time I look at the table, I recall other seasons where clubs were in the same position. Two come to mind: Worcester Valkyries (aka Warriors) and Wasps. Where are they now?
However straightforward this win was for Lightning, it was only the third they could celebrate. I can’t offer any advice to the coaching team, but I wonder how things might have turned out, if they’d continued playing in front of their own (student) supporters in west Loughborough, in their own colours. Their performance today still couldn’t lift them above the far less experienced Trailfinders outfit.
As I see it, Northampton’s support in no way matches the boost Gloucester have given Glos-Pury. Perhaps the second half of the season will prove me wrong.
Result: Sale Sharks 7 Loughborough Lightning 50
Table P W Pts
Exeter Chiefs 9 8 38
Glos-Pury 10 7 38
Saracens 10 7 37
Quins 9 7 35
Bristol Bears 9 6 31
Trailfinders 9 3 18
Lightning 10 3 18
Tigers 8 1 6
Sharks 10 0 0
If only it weren’t for that frustrating first column, we could read more clearly how things stand.
Afterthoughts
The fixture-list leaves Quins and Tigers to play their game after the festival weekend, while everyone else is looking forward to the next round on 4 January.
Bears next face Gloucester-Hartpury then Exeter in succession. Welcome to 2025.
