Saracens v Quins
The two big beasts battled to a magnificent draw, to become the first clubs to record two draws against each other in one season of the Prem 15s. The other one though was a mere figment of the administrators’ imagination. This was the real thing, requiring Zoe Harrison to pull a last-minute kick out of the bag to equalise. Nerves? What nerves?
If you saw either of the teams playing against four of the Six Nations, you couldn’t be sure who would win, the standards they achieve are so high. Both were already assured of their place in the knock-outs, but local rivalries alone were enough to ensure plenty of off-the-ball. Only Georgia Evans saw a yellow card, but that was for off-side when under huge pressure.
So near and yet so far for Quins. The penalty given against them in the 69th minute seemed rather harsh, but the trouble was it happened midfield, well within Harrison’s reach.
Quins fielded an all-England starting XV, which is an agreeable rarity.
Result: 17-17
Wasps v Sale Sharks
Photo: David Howlett
Using a strong westerly breeze both sides produced a series of long searching kicks that tested the positioning and handling of the back threes. Wasps had the edge at the breakdown, managing to slow or thwart Sale’s repossessions, but the Sharks showed plenty of go-forward.
The hosts had to work hard through the first half, Maud Muir making an early break with a nice offload to Sadia Kabeya, then on nine minutes Hannah West followed suit, allowing Elizabeth Crake to force her way over. Flo Williams, deputising ably for Meg Jones, converted. (7-0)
Wasps achieved only one more score before the break, heavy pressure leading to a second try for Crake.
Half-time 12-0
You could imagine words being spoken in the changing-room, because Wasps filled the second half with 38 unanswered points, two of the tries numbering among the very best the club has produced this season – and that’s saying something.
It started when the pack pushed Sale off their own scrum on the Wasps’ 5-metre line. After the whoops of delight, the ball started moving at pace across field. A magnificent run by Abby Dow through dense traffic on the left helped Muir finish the job on the right (19-0)
Ten minutes later a penalty kick to the corner led to a perfect catch-and-drive that crabbed to the posts. Try! (26-0)
The flood-gates were opening. Amy Wilson Hardy offloaded finely to Dow who sprinted away and over. (33-0)
Sharks were still working hard, but Wasps were adept at disruption, and their speed of thought and distribution was the difference. The next move was finished off by Ellie Boatman, replacing Katie Mason on the right flank. (38-0)
Now Dow repeated her rush-hour disappearing trick, slicing past flailing hands to score her second. (43-0)
It was fitting that Muir put up the final try to mark her inclusion in the England squad. It would be no surprise to see her taking the field in a white shirt over the next month.
Final score: 50-0
It doesn’t do justice to Sale’s efforts all through, but they couldn’t retain possession long enough, and Wasps have the wherewithal this season to profit from opposition errors.
Exeter Chiefs claimed another top-4 scalp in a close encounter with Lightning. The visitors were more dominant in the second half, but couldn’t pull back the deficit despite Helena Rowland’s 69th minute try. This brings Chiefs another step closer to the big time next year.
Results:
DMP Durham Sharks 7 Gloucester-Hartpury 38
Exeter Chiefs 17 Loughborough Lightning 12
Saracens 17 Harlequins 17
Wasps 50 Sale Sharks 0
Sunday
Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
Table P W L D B Pts
Saracens 16 13 2 1 14 69
Harlequins 16 12 3 1 13 63
Wasps 15 11 4 0 12 56
Loughborough 16 11 5 0 10 54
Exeter 16 10 6 0 8 48
Glos-Pury 16 9 7 0 9 45
Worcester 15 4 11 0 6 23
Bristol 15 4 11 0 6 22
Sale 16 3 13 0 3 15
DMPDS 15 0 15 0 0 0
We now enjoy a break for the Six Nations
Officials:
Wasps v Sale Sharks
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
ARs: Matthew Sharpe & Katherine Ritchie
Saracens v Harlequins
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Neil Sweeney & James Pidding
DMP Durham Sharks v Gloucester-Hartpury
Referee: Nia Parsonage
ARs: Owen Taylor & David Charlton
Exeter Chiefs v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Adam Wookey & Max Weston
Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Peter Caunt & Jon Petzing
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
