Allianz Premier 15s – Round 15
There were very welcome returns for Emily Scarratt and especially Laura Keates, who has been missing from action for far too long. From the younger generation Jodie Ounsley made a timely comeback on the wing for Sale, just as Lisa Neumann switched to Glos-Pury to make best use of her new Welsh contract.
Loughborough Lightning v Gloucester-Hartpury
Not another utterly enthralling match? Yes!
On 75 minutes Glos-Pury came back to bring the scores level. On 80 minutes Helena Rowland had a penalty in front (of a strong wind), but the ball hit the near post, pranged away, then ran behind the dead-ball line.
It took Lightning half-an-hour to profit from that wind. Helena Rowland skipped her way past tackles, fed Georgia Lingham on the wing and she turned the ball inside for Sara Svoboda to go over. Rowland’s kick hit the wrong side of the upright.
Before the break a Lark Davies line-out throw was fumbled; Bianca Blackburn reacted fast, rotating to free the ball behind her. From there Sisilia Tuipulotu reminded everyone of her promise by forcing her way over the line. Emma Sing converted to give the visitors a 2-point lead, with the help of the wind to come after the turn-around.
All too soon Lightning paid for a grubber kick ahead. It looked promising, but they hadn’t counted on Sing spinning out of two tackles, corkscrewing ahead and grubbing the ball deep into space. Rowland chased back but the bounce of the ball on the artificial pitch defeated her; Ellie Underwood pounced. (5-14)
On 65 minutes spectators could divide their attention between no fewer than three World Players of the Year. Emily Scarratt appeared after too long an absence to join team-mate Sarah Hunter and Zoe Aldcroft. She at once made her presence felt, Lleucu George taking a painful knock bringing her down on the wing.
A minute later Lightning got themselves back into the game with a fine try. The forwards pounded at the line, Abby Duguid was denied by being held up, then Aldcroft hauled Scarratt down on the wing. Hunter off-loaded to Jess Weaver. She spotted Bulou Mataitoga cutting a sharp angle and she leapt over the line to score. (12-14)
It took Lightning 70 minutes to regain the lead. The pack did the heavy shifting again and Courtney Holtkamp did well to force a touchdown that the referee could see. Rowland kicked a tricky conversion (19-14).
Glos-Pury are all too familiar with narrow last-minute losses, but, inspired by the returning Mo Hunt, they went all out to turn the game. The forwards drove hard, then Hannah Jones stepped inside to force her way over – just. Sing couldn’t manage a crucial conversion. (19-19)
The game wasn’t over; Lightning went straight back on attack, When the referee offered them a penalty in front, Scarratt checked the time with him: the last minute! An earnest discussion took place. The decision was that kick at goal, by Rowland, not Scarratt. It was the second time she had hit the metal-work.
Best not to have too many post-match reviews. ‘What if…?’ ‘Why didn’t you…?’ ‘Surely the right decision was…’ It was a thrilling game.
But Glos-Pury must wonder about rugby justice. They have scored 130 points than the opposition this season, yet they have lost more games than they have won. This was yet another that slipped out of their grasp.
Emily Scarratt and Mo Hunt may know when they last played against each other from the bench.
Result: 19-19
Player of the Match: Courtney Holtkamp
The three other games reverted to the type the RFU doesn’t want to see, far too one-sided.
Quins sent out something close to a Second XV but nearly topped fifty against DMPDS. Sharks are bearing up wonderfully well, but you have to doubt the RFU’s ability to help put things right in the short term.
Wasps got their season back on track with a triumph over Sale in the north-west. Ellie Boatman added three more tries to bring her harvest to twelve. Once more we can be grateful to a neighbouring club, Chester RUFC, for hosting the match. Heywood Road was unfit.
Warriors suffered a big loss in the south-west to the Chiefs, The World XV scored ten tries, Merryn Doidge setting a season’s record with a try on 28 seconds. She completed a hat-trick, as did Emily Tuttosi. These are worrying times for Worcester; they had a stormy first three years in the AP 15s, tried to re-establish themselves, but are finding this fifth season distinctly tough. Though they stand well clear of the two back-markers, there is a 13-point gap between them and Glos-Pury.
The Big Game, Bristol v Sarries, comes 24 hours later on the BBC.
Results
DMP Durham Sharks 5 Quins 48
Exeter Chiefs 60 Worcester Warriors 7
Loughborough Lightning 19 Gloucester-Hartpury 19
Sale Sharks 7 Wasps 53
Table P W L D Pts
Saracens 13 12 1 0 57
Harlequins 15 11 4 0 55
Bristol 14 11 3 0 54
Exeter 14 9 4 1 46
Wasps 15 8 6 1 45
Loughborough 15 8 6 1 43
Gloucester-H 14 6 7 1 37
Worcester 15 4 11 0 24
Sale 14 1 13 0 7
DMPDS 15 0 14 0 0
Officials:
DMP Durham Sharks v Harlequins
Referee: Dave Charlton
ARs: Adam Morrison and Dean Lythgoe
Loughborough Lightning v Gloucester-Hartpury
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Sam Yates and Fiona Brunt
Sale Sharks v Wasps
Referee: Max Weston
ARs: Ben Moore and Mike Mulroy
Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Iain Kiy
ARs: Ollie Parsons and Anthony Eales
Bristol Bears v Saracens
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Dave Philpot and Holly Wood
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
