Saracens v Loughborough Lightning
This match was a classic study in the difference between a top-flight side and another with ambition.
Lightning surprised early on by thrusting forward at the first scrum. Result: try to Sarries!
They still managed to clear the ball, and the deftest of off-loads by Poppy Cleall helped give Alysha Corrigan her first try on the far left. 5-0
This wasn’t an easy day for conversions, damp and breezy. Only very few succeeded.
A typical burst by Alev Kelter faltered when the support troops arrived late. This was a foretaste of Lightning’s problems for much of the game. Promising moves ended with poor options or uncertain handling.
Sarries countered with excellent links and a try to the omnipresent Liv Apps. 12-0
Even when Sadia Kabeya charged down a Zoe Harrison clearance, Lightning couldn’t profit. Next Sarries advanced right to the line, only to lose possession for Helen Nelson to clear.
Lightning’s chances improved when Julia Omokhuale was shown yellow for a head-to-head collision with Alicia Maude. Fortunately it was (correctly) deemed low-grade danger, but Loughborough took advantage.
They were now showing much better form.
The pack erupted with joy at winning a scrum penalty. Not for the first time Marlie Packer conceded ten metres for offering an opuinion. The A further penalty brought Lightning to a 5-metre line-out; it worked perfectly and Lucy Calladine broke away to score easily.
Half-time: 12-5
This was another really tight competitive PWR game.
In the next quarter-hour Ligbtning struck twice. First through the outstanding Kabeya after another accurate line-out; then Lucia Scott scythed her way through Sarries’ defences. She was just halted in time, but Daisy Hibbert-Jones was on hand to put her side in the lead for the first time. 12-15
This is where Sarries’ class told. From here Loughborough couldn’t mount another score.
By contrast Sarries added three tries; through Rosie Galligan, Apps and Packer.
It must be admitted that a grave error helped to break the dam. When everyone expected a Loughborough clearance kick, the ball was passed inside to Carmela Morrall. She seemed so surprised that she dropped the ball just in front of her own post. An early Christmas present for the original North London Club.
That turn of the tide helped to ensure what may look like a simple win for the past champions, but it wasn’t. Sadly though, it meant no bonus point for the visitors. They had come close to both.
Result: Saracens 33 Loughborough Lightning 15
Player of the Match: Olivia Apps
Teams:
Saracens: 15 BREACH 14 CORRIGAN 13 HARDY 12 BLACKLOCK 11 GREGSON 10 HARRISON 9 APPS 1 CRAKE 2 CAMPBELL 3 CLIFFORD 4 GALLIGAN 5 P. CLEALL 6 OMOKHUALE 7 M. PACKER 8 SENFT
16 FIELD 17 TREMELLING 18 ROSE 19 McMILLAN 20 EVANS 21 SELLORS 22 BRIDGER 23 LINKINS
Loughborough: 15 SCOTT 14 BERMUDEZ 13 KELTER 12 MORRALL 11 WESTCOMBE-EVANS 10 NELSON 9 MAUDE 1 YOUNG 2 CALLADINE 3 SAGAPOLU 4 IVES CAMPION 5 EHRECKE 6 HIBBERT- JONES 7 KABEYA 8 LUTUI
16 TREDER 17 WILLIAMS 18 BELISLE 19 BOYD 20 FITZPATRICK 21 BRODY 22 DAVEY 23 GREEN
Simplified Table
Glos-Pury 30 pts
Sarries 25
Chiefs 22
Lightning 13
Quins 13
TF 12
Sharks 11
Bears 5
Tigers 1
Note: the table remains misleading through the regular season. Here, some clubs have played six, others five.
Afterthoughts
It was a miserable day, but I still wonder whether hopes of greatly increased crowds have been realised. The East stand looked far emptier than in previous seasons.
An amusing contribution from a Lightning player to their website: “This is our town!” Which town is that, Loughborough or Northampton? Or have they now twinned?
