Bristol Bears v Loughborough Lightning
Bears can feel very sorry for themselves. They’re suffering an injury-list as long as your arm, and not even two World Cup winners and a former World Player of the Year could ensure a second win in six attempts. They remain anchored in eighth place.
Things looked far more prosperous at the break. Three fine tries by Reneeka Bonner, Emma Orr and Ella Lovibond saw them lead 19-14.
Bonner was all pace and power on the wing; another break by her helped Orr post the second score. Lovibond’s dummy was so devastating that the doors opened wide all the way to the posts. Pure delight.
Early on Lightning put their money on the running game; the first lengthy kick failed to find touch.
They then developed a more rounded approach played at high pace. The whole team was involved, inspired by Sadia Kabeya in deed and word.
Mae Sagapolu exploited poor defence to barrel over for their first try. Her second came much later, this time inspired by a long break from Lucy Calladine and fast- thinking follow-ups.
Half-time: 19-14
As dusk fell, the game ran away from the hosts. They conceded only two tries, and we certainly can’t accuse them of lack of fitness or effort. It was essentially less experienced players finding themselves under great pressure. The old hands weren’t able on their own to keep the ship steady.
An early scrum allowed Alicia Maude to snipe from the base all the way to the line. That restored their brief earlier lead of 5-7.
For much of the remaining time Lightning played as their name implies.
Alev Kelter added their bonus-winning try, but Scott Lawson can credit his side with perseverance under heavy attack.
Towards the end the referee had a quiet word with Abbie Ward as her team suffered a string of penalties under heavy pressure. Not the pleasantest way to celebrate your 50th appearance.
But when Lightning won a penalty in front, Daisy Hibbert-Jones was only too happy to ask Helen Nelson to add three.
You could sense that the home fans understood their team’s position. No calls here of “Sack the manager!”
Their present plight offers one consolation: young players like Susannah Picton-Powell, Tilly Ryall, Amy Dale and Seren Singleton, could make their mark, (and Sean Lynn was there to watch the promising Welsh youngsters on show).
Result: Bristol 19 Loughborough Lightning 31
Player of the Match: Helen Nelson
Teams
Bears: 15 LOVIBOND 14 BONNER 13 ORR 12 PICTON-POWELL 11 DAVID 10 DEMANT 9 RYALL 1 BOTTERMAN 2 DALE 3 E. CLARKE 4 CUNNINGHAM 5 WARD (captain) 6 BALOGUN 7 HERRING 8 E. GALLAGHER
16 SPRAGUE 17 PAM 18 JAH 19 BUISA (late withdrawal) 20 HOPKINS 21 SINGLETON 22 SKUSE 23 JOYCE
Lightning: 15 SCOTT 14 MATAITOGA 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 (captain) 7 KABEYA 8 LUTUI
16 TREDER 17 CURPHEY 18 JAH 19 BOYD 20 WAUDBY 21 BRODY 22 DAVEY 33 L. GREEN
Afterthoughts
This was Bears’ first visit to Shaftesbury Park since Round 3.
Pam Buisa was slated to make her debut, but was a late withdrawal. Far worse, she missed out on the World Cup too.
Lightning had their absences as well, most notably Helena Rowland, who can make any side look better.
Their win jumps them one place above Trailfinders in the table.
Am I the only one to notice a great improvement in the standard of commentary, both on radio and livestream?
