The Saturday Matches:
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers
Gloucester-Hartpury v Trailfinders
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers
Bears made changes to their ranks, an important one being Phoebe Murray in the unaccustomed position of 10. But she cast off doubts with a dangerous break through midfield that set off a long phase of possession.
It was no help to Tigers’ cause when Julia Omokhuale suffered a match-ending injury during this opening spell. Even without their England front-row, Bears drove Tigers off a scrum; that helps to explain their perilous position in the table.
It took Holly Phillips three minutes to get her team motoring on the end of many drives. (7-0) We had to hope this wouldn’t degenerate into another 100-point devastation.
Oh dear! A deep kick-off into the Bears’ 22 brought a try to Simi Pam right under the posts at the other end. One vital tackle was missed, then excellent links gave the prop the chance to show her paces again.
Chris Balogun (ex-Wasps) was very prominent; now she helped get Mille David over the line, but Mike Hudson ruled held up.
The moment Tigers laid hands on the ball, they forgot the need to protect the breakdown, then, as the ball came out, a poor pass was knocked on.
Inside 20 minutes Hudson was already giving Tigers a preliminary warning. Such is life. Now Phillips had her second; it was going to be her day.
Millie David took the league try-scoring lead with her twelfth in the left corner to ensure the bonus-point – as if it had been in doubt.
Tigers had a line-out inside Bears’ 22 for the first time on the half-hour – only because of a wild pass into touch. The catch and throw were clean, but Natasha Jones dropped the pass. Such basic errors.
At last Tigers had a moment to savour: Leah Bartlett lifted fellow-Scot Elliann Clarke off her feet. The next scrum was solid, but Meg Jones pinned her quarry behind Bears’ line.
Easy as you please, Tigers scored. Amy Relf ran right, a pass to Jones, over the top to Emily Henrich and she crossed.
Half-time: 24-5
Tigers restarted with a broadside, but as the forward drives were held, Jones put up a cross-kick which Henrich couldn’t reach. A little more patience?
Bears proved they prefer the handling game by running the ball right across the own in-goal area before being bundled back behind! They paid the penalty. Tahlia Brody picked from the base and was over! 24-12
An infringement at the line-out undid Tigers’ good work; a drive and a hat-trick for Phillips. Will Lark Atkin-Davies be seeking her fourth new club? 31-12
Tigers responded at once. Brody made a midfield break, then registered her second after the ball cannoned against a post to prevent Claire Gallagher scoring. 31-19
A no-look off-load proved expensive: Charlotte Fray saw yellow for not rolling and that was Phillips’ fourth! It was time for some Jones’ magic. She launched and completed a move that flirted with the right touchline, but the flag stayed down, and Tigers had a highly deserved try- bonus. (38-24) That was with 14 on the field.
Ilona Maher had made very little impression till the 68th minute, when a bang on the nose caused a flood.
Next it was Ffion Lewis who jinked her way through, creating space for Gabriella Nigrelli to enjoy her moment. 43-24
I’m delighted to say Tigers were at their best in the final minutes, Fray driving over from the second of two penalties awarded close to the line.
Bears can’t take much pleasure from this score; it’s the points against that tell the story. Playing the top sides, they can’t afford leaky defences like this.
Result 43-29
Teams:
Bears
15 Ella Lovibond 14 Millie David 13 Courtney Keight 12 Meg Varley 11 Ilona Maher 10 Phoebe Murray 9 Keira Bevan (captain) 1 Simi Pam 2 Holly Phillips 3 Elliann Clarke 4 Hollie Cunningham 5 Delaney Burns 6 Christiana Balogun 7 Alisha Joyce-Butchers 8 Gabriella Nigrelli
16 Lark Atkin-Davies 17 Jess Sprague 18 Sarah Bern 19 Jenny Herring 20 Row Marston- Mulhearn 21 Ffion Lewis 22 Jenny Hesketh 23 Reneeka Bonner
Tigers
15 Claire Gallagher 14 Emily Henrich 13 Meg Jones 12 Evie Wills 11 Francesca McGhie 10 Natasha Jones 9 Amy Relf 1 Leah Bartlett 2 Nikki Simpson 3 Sophie Benavent 4 Eva Donaldson 5 Charlotte Fray 6 Julia Omokhuale 7 Roisin McBrien (captain) 8 Tahlia Brody
16 Jordan Russell 17 Abbey Constable 18 Clodagh Dunne 19 Tiana Gordon 20 Morgan Richardson 21 Jenny Maxwell 22 Tess Feury 23 Katie Childs
Gloucester-Hartpury v Trailfinders
The classic this match turned into won’t have pleased Sean Lynn. The trophy-less Londoners came and nearly conquered.
G-H started well enough with two tries: first the Mo Hunt party piece, a charge-down, then Mackenzie Carson doubled the score.
It took TF half-an-hour to get on the board, Rori Wood taking the honours. Julia Schell converted to make it an all-Canadian affair. (14-7) When Tyson Beukeboom, a third Maple Leaf, scored a second, just before half-time, you had to wonder: were G-H relaxing? (14-12)
No, they mounted a big attack, Hunt getting a second from close to line.
Half-time: 21-12
Pip Hendy made sure of the bonus at once. TF had lined up on one side of the scrum, but lost possession, and G-H went the other way. Oh! on a second look, the try was scrubbed off.
The next moment TF were right in the game again. 21-17, a second for the insatiable Wood. Kévin Rouet may well have found himself an important tight-head back-up for the splendid DaLeaka Menin.
It was a sign of the times when Alex Matthews left the field early. John Mitchell will be keeping close tabs on his players as the season drags on. Five rounds to go, then the Six Nations. The Red Roses will need some recuperation over the summer before the real challenges loom.
TF were causing G-H real problems. On 54 minutes they had the nerve to take the lead. Steph Else lost possession and Alivia Leatherman exploited. 21-24
A most unusual position for Kingsholm fans – and for Hunt, who found it necessary to chat to the ref more than usual – which is a lot. TF even held Sisilia Tuipulotu up on the line.
G-H’s response was to score two tries. (33-24) Game safe? No!
Three minutes later Lindelwa Gwala was held up over line. Even as the hosts sought a comeback score, they lost possession close in. A Rollie interception saw play removed to the other end, and the tension came close to snapping-point.
In a grandstand finish TF scored their fifth try through the returning Liz Musgrove. Schell’s conversion reduced the margin to a bare two points again. 33-31!
Nikki O’Donnell blew the final whistle as Gwala knocked the ball on over the line; that was the winning score dashed. Glos-Pury were saved from ignominious defeat.
Now at least they face the two bottom clubs.
Afterthought
It’s strange how a side so wedded to open play as TF can still depend on the pack for scores. Today it was Wood (2), Beukeboom and Leatherman, with Musgrove adding the fifth. Just like the Red Roses?
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
This was a more predictable affair, though Sharks still managed to dent the Quins’ line with a Sofia Stefan try, then add a penalty.
At half-time the margin was only two points, but the effort needed to keep the stronger pack at bay told. Ellie Kildunne helped herself to three tries.
Who would have guessed after two opening defeats that Quins would now be caressing a 10-win sequence?
Result: 10-43
Top of the Table
Table P W Pts
Glos-Pury 13 10 53
Quins 12 10 50
Saracens 12 8 43
Bristol Bears 12 8 41
Exeter Chiefs 10 8 39
One more game to come: Sunday 19 January
Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs
