Gloucester-Hartpury show benefits of confidence
Allianz Premier 15s Round 10
It was Dave Ward who described his next opponents as a runaway train. The Bears came within a whisker of ending G-H’s unbeaten run, but finished with only a losing bonus-point to show for their efforts. Ten past and present Red Roses were on view in a humdinger.
Intelligence, confidence and skill might be the league-leaders’ watchwords. They certainly believe in set-piece security.
There was huge excitement as G-H took a quick line-out and pummelled the hosts’ line. But an interception by Keira Bevan offered her an 80-metre burst. She was caught by Emma Sing, and the Bears couldn’t profit.
On 15 minutes quick hands gave Sing the ball with Simi Pam in front of her. Only one result, 0-7.
Another rapid move gave Rachel Lund on the opposite wing just enough room to get outside her marker for a second try. (0-12)
Pam got her own back by bursting through an invisible gap to score (5-12). But Bears were hindered by a series of kicks (mostly by Elinor Snowsill) that failed to find touch. At this level that is unforgivable.
More delightful interplay between Sing and Ellie Rugman gave the latter her regulation weekly try, her 11th. (7-19`)
Bears came back strongly after the break to close within two points. For the first time in ages the Cherry-and-Whites were under the pump, and they had lost Beth Lewis to injury.
The fact is they held out for the last 26 minutes with that tiny lead. You could argue that real champions should stride away to victory, but they did it the hard way, and deserve credit for that.
Result: Bears 17 G-H 19
Player of the Match: Mo Hunt – are successive award-judges trying to tell the England selectors something?
Teams:
Bears:
Pam, Davies, Bern, O’Donnell, Burns, Barwick, Molloy, Marston; Bevan Snowsill; Lovibond, Reed (captain), Murray, White, Keight
Bench: Phillips, Pyrs, Mulhearn, Lockwood, King, Burgess, Skuse, Bonner
G-H: Muir, Powell, Delgado, Tuipuplotu, Monaghan, K. Jones, Lewis, Aldcroft (co-captain); Hunt (co-captain), Bridger, Lund, Heard, H. Jones, Rugman, Sing
Bench: N. Jones, Hope, Hale, Else, Brock, Lillicrap, Blackburn, Goulden
Sale v UWW
A coincidence: the two teams reinstated in the league (but only possibly, according to the RFU’s latest dictum) met in an absolute thriller in Cheshire. Here’s a scoring sequence:
70 minutes 31-27
75 minutes 36-27
Full-time 36-34
Results:
Saturday
Bristol Bears 17 Gloucester-Hartpury 20
Exeter Chiefs 61 DMP Sharks 0
Sale Sharks 36 UWW 34
Wasps 3 Saracens 78
Sunday
Harlequins 39 Loughborough Lightning 17
Lightning started with a fine try from a catch-and-drive. Quins took time to gain the ascendancy, not helped by Amy Turner’s insistence on the slow ruck followed by a box-kick, so beloved in the men’s game. With such stunning skills out behind (Scott, Tuima, Kildunne, Dow), it makes you wonder why.
Chloe Edwards enjoyed becoming the first Quin to win 100 caps even more by scoring their first try. Ellie Kildunne was on the end of their second, a lovely quick-handed move to the right wing.
When Abby Dow was finally given an inch of space, it looked as though the game till then had been playing in slo-mo. The ball came back infield for Bella Mckenzie to cross under the posts.
As so often, Lightning were suffering from minor but costly errors. A half-time deficit of 24-10 grew wider. Not even a good catch-and-drive near the end could bring them a try bonus.
We have to wonder why Lucy Packer was kept waiting on the bench. Only the seven ex-Wasps players concerned here today.
The win puts Quins in 3rd place, but catch-up games still remain, three of them next week.
The 10th Round results
Overwhelming defeats for the two sides condemned to relegation contrast vividly with two nail-biters at Shaftesbury Park and the CorpAcq Stadium. Will the stuttering changes the RFU is bringing about remove the former and add to the latter next season? It’s hope against hope.
Table
P W L Pts
Gloucester-H 10 10 0 48
Exeter 10 9 1 45
Harlequins 10 7 3 35
Saracens 9 6 3 30
UWW 9 4 5 22
Bristol 9 4 5 22
Sale 9 5 4 23
Lightning 10 2 8 13
Wasps 9 0 9 0
DMPS 9 0 9 0
Afterthoughts
One of the more poignant rounds in Prem 15s’ history. The two clubs conveniently omitted from the RFU’s latest statement (DMPS and Wasps ‘the non-goodbye’) came up against two of the strongest outfits on the production-line.
Centres of Excellence suddenly get prominence. Wasps, who have known happier times, find themselves with six players included in the Under 18 national squad.
Lyndsay O’Donnell joins Bristol from Worcester on loan for the rest of the season. There have been remarkably few loan-transfers in the league.
It’s salutary to note the different paths taken by the two campus-based clubs. G-H, now assisted materially by Gloucester RFC, have moved skyward; Lightning still await the benefits of linking with Northampton Saints.
Rosewatch
A shade early to restart this survey, but the sight of Zoe Aldcroft not returning after an HIA sets us wondering about who will be available when the Six Nations’ kick-off comes on 25 March.
We don’t even know who will be picking the squad, but here goes. The following players did not appear in Round 10:
Abbie Ward (out for the foreseeable future – congratulations to her)
Alex Matthews
Hannah Botterman
Helena Rowland
Laura Keates
Leanne Infante
Marlie Packer
Vickii Cornborough
