Loughborough Lightning v Harlequins
This was the first of four desperately vital matches for players, coaches and fans.
Both teams had been suffering; together they had lost the last seven games out of ten, despite the glittering array of talent on show.
Lightning started well, benefiting from a high diagonal by Helena Rowland and a thrust by Alev Kelter, who was a menace throughout.
But an unfortunate obstruction by Christine Belisle halted progress. She was to make up for that with an outstanding display.
Ellie Kildunne produced her special early on. After kicking deep beyond Rowland, she followed up to deflect her hasty clearance. A few phases later she worked a gap in midfield to finish under the posts.
Lightning responded with a fine turnover by Daisy Hibbert-Jones. The ball swung right to Bo Westcombe-Evans (the left winger!) and Lis Maude crossed.
This was one of those games that resemble basketball, end to end, and a treat to watch – for the neutral..
Next it was Jade Konkel forcing her way over. But on the rebound Kelter won a turnover for DHJ to score.
On the half-hour Belisle made a big break through midfield. This had consequences, since Kildunne saw yellow for trying to intercepted a pass – a scoring pass?
Once again, we must query the two sets of regulations that govern PWR matches. Was a penalty try in order here? There was no TMO in place to help Joe James and his ARs, so no try.
Lightning responded in the best way possible; BWE scoring two tries on the end of delightful handling movements. One of their strongest features is a willingness to spread the ball fast and wide, like any white-shirted side you may have spotted recently.
Quins looked for these chances too, but they came more rarely.
Half-time: 24-14
Could the African Violets possibly hang on to this lead? They’d found such challenges difficult this season, hence their eighth place.
They began by halting a thunderous attack on their line, then answered in their own fashion. The first points of the half came to the deserving Belisle. (31-14)
But this was still a variation of basketball; midfield play at a minimum. Freya Aucken; another to have a great game, and Sarah Parry both went over to close the gap to five points.
Was this to he another game that the hosts let slip?
No!
In the final ten minutes Kelter made another thrust and BWE scored a lovely try.
Then Carmela Morrall ran a clever line to make her contribution.
Quins responded strongly, but a final try by Ella Cromack (plus her own fine conversion) couldn’t swing the day.
Result: Lightning 43 Quins 33
Player of the Match: Bo Westcombe-Evans
So this was the same margin as in the first game of the season, but with a different victor.
Teams
Lightning: 1 YOUNG 2 TREDER 3 BELISLE 4 IVES CAMPION 5 EHRECKE 6 HIBBERT-JONES 7 KABEYA 8 LUTUI 9 MAUDE 10 ROWLAND 11 WESTCOMBE-EVANS 12 MORRALL 13 KELTER 14 BERMUDEZ 15 MATAITOGA
16 STATHOPOULOS 17 CURPHEY 18 SAGAPOLU 19 BOYD 20 WAUDBY 21 BRODY 22 DAVEY 23 L. GREEN
Quins: 1 Z. GREEN 2 C. POWELL 3 HANLON 4 McINTOSH 5 KONKEL 6 MIKAELE TU’U 7 SVOBODA 8 WAFER 9 SWORDS 10 CROMACK 11 AUCKEN 12 TUIMA 13 PARRY 14 PENA 15 KILDUNNE
16 PHILLIPS 17 DELGADO 18 WINSTANLEY 19 WYTHE 20 MEULLER 21 BURGESS 22 K. POWELL 23 WILCOCK
Afterthoughts
It’s hard to criticise shortcomings in a game of this quality and intensity; players had so little time to react to situations. Neither pack was able to dominate for any length of time.
Two important absences were Helen Nelson and Lucy Packer.
Was it wise to move the influential Claudia Pena to the wing? She was less in evidence here in Northampton.
This was Lightning’s first win of 2026.
Coaches have half an eye on future events. Both the 6 Nations and the Pacific Four series start on 11 April. Clubs like Loughborough could suffer serious non-availabilities if players are called away for urgent training sessions on another continent.
John Mitchell is expected to announce his 6N squad next Friday. Who knows, he might have made his mind up weeks ago! All that recent effort for nothing?
Three more dramatic Round 14 matches to come. It’s Bristol Bears’ turn to be left out in the cold. Sunday sees the big one, Sarries versus Glos-Pury. TNT will cover that one of course.
