PWR – Round 17
Two matches: Saracens v Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks v Gloucester-Hartpury (in brief)
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
Brief Intro:
Chiefs’ injury list was getting longer and longer. Missing faces included Alex Tessier, Cliodhna Moloney, Maisy Allen, Edel McMahon, Gabby Cantorna, Flo Long, Mikiela Nelson and Taylor Perry. This is where 6 Nations head coaches get worried too. How long before recovery?
Their absence helps explain one strange feature of the table, Chiefs’ lack of points. With 372 they lie 62 behind the next lowest of the top five, Quins, and a whopping 184 behind the top scorers, Bears. Defence of course is a separate matter.
Another very late kick-off – why?
The Game
After some messy early play Chiefs got to work. They moved the ball clinically, edging ever closer. Flo Robinson was responsible for opening up gaps, and Nancy McGillivray went over on five minutes. A beautifully developed attack.
Jess Breach was making a very welcome first appearance this season, but that prolonged absence told, as she made two atypical errors. Ella Wyrwas helped Sarries back into the game, first with a fast lateral run, then a sudden change of direction and feed. Result: try to Sophie Bridger diving off the 5-metre board.
On the half-hour yet another devilish short line-out throw brought a simple try for May Campbell; pass from Marlie Packer. An outstanding conversion by Zoe Harrison. 14-7
A tiny pop-pass from Akina Gondwe set Georgia Evans away. The pack followed in and Poppy Cleall scored Sarries’ third. Worse still for Chiefs, the referee offered Claudia Macdonald a yellow.
Half-time: 21-7
Sarries had had the advantage of a strong February breeze. Could Chiefs now use it to keep their hopes alive?
A huge diagonal bounced badly for them; Bridger hacked it on, but as she aimed a second hoof to put it over the line, it repaid its debt to Chiefs. Now Poppy Cleall showed the breadth of her talents: she dropped the ball on to her right foot, chipped over the top and collected. Chiefs just hauled her in in time.
At the other end Breach still hadn’t retrieved her catching skills after that long lay-off – and Macdonald was looking on from the edge. Before she was substituted, she did at least pull off a fine tackle.
When Macdonald reappeared, she made a devastating run and found support. Linde van der Velden tried an off-load under pressure. It failed and points went begging.
An excellent set-piece move by Chiefs took them inside Sarries’ 5-metre line, but then it was ‘holding on’ once again, May Campbell doing her job.
On the hour mark Chiefs managed to overcome their handling errors. Sabrina Poulin caught a tricky high ball and countered thrillingly to feed Macdonald, who was away down the left. Cleall charged the conversion prematurely, and Liv McGoverne was allowed a retake. The second kick followed the first, to the left. 21-12
Sarries had a chance of that bonus point with a 5-metre line-out. Instead, the game descended into a melee, commonly known as handbags. Initially Chiefs were at fault, but the ref took exception to Galligan hauling an opponent to the ground away from the ball.
The game petered out, Chiefs showing once again how difficult they find it scoring tries when needed. No bonus-points taken; the plot thickens.
Result: Saracens 21 Chiefs 12
Player of the Match: Marlie Packer
Teams
Saracens
15 Breach 14 Gregson 13 Hardy 12 Bridger 11 Sharp 10 Harrison 9 Wyrwas 1 Gondwe 2 Campbell 3 Clifford 4 Galligan 5 McMillan 6 Evans 7 Packer (captain) 8 P. Cleall
16 Field 17 Montiel 18 Tremelling 19 B. Cleall 20 Senft 21 Sellors 22 Blacklock 23 McKenna
Chiefs
15 Doidge 14 Macdonald 13 Kobayashi 12 McGillivray 11 Buchanan 10 McGoverne 9 F. Robinson 1 Rogers 2 Tuttosi 3 Menin 4 Leitch (captain) 5 van der Velden 6 Feaunati 7 E. Robinson 8 Johnson
16 Nielson 17 Swann 18 Jacoby 19 Wall 20 Orchard 21 Bricknell 22 Poulin 23 Tasker
Referee; Anthony Woodthorpe
Sale Sharks v Gloucester-Hartpury
The top v bottom game finished with a clear victory to the visitors, though Sharks made them work hard, and had the pleasure of scoring a try through Sophia Stefan. Sean Lynn was content to send out a modified starting XV, with characters like Matthews and Hunt held in reserve, just in case.
Mia Venner was one of several England squad players this weekend to make a strong impression. She bagged a hat-trick of tries.
Sale have to play Sarries away next week, but let’s hope plans are afoot to ensure a more prosperous season next year.
Result: Sharks 10 Glos-Pury 34
Teams
Sharks
15 Prothero 14 Hopkins 13 Philipps 12 Rigoni 11 Thorpe 10 Wilkins 9 Stefan 1 Benson 2 Fielding 3 Harper 4 Antwis 5 Jarrell 6 J. Brown 7 Swailes 8 Talling (captain)
16 Wright 17 Schonert 18 James 19 Morrissey 20 Bowman 21 Bell 22 Howard 23 Perrin
Gloucester-Hartpury
15 Venner 14 Rugman 13 Hendy 12 Hyatt 11 Lund 10 George 9 Davies 1 Perry 2 Boag 3 Buggy 4 Beckett 5 Stafford 6 Else 7 Lewis 8 Aldcroft (captain)
16 N. Jones 17 Samuda 18 Cockburn 19 Crabb 20 Matthews 21 Hunt 22 Green 23 Metcalfe
The top 5
Table P W Pts
Glos-Pury 15 112 63
Saracens 15 11 57
Quins 15 11 55
Bristol Bears 16 10 53
Exeter Chiefs 15 9 46
Bears have completed their programme.
