The game started promisingly for Sharks; Claire Gallagher made a fine break, but with support on each shoulder she failed to offer a pass – why, oh why?

Tigers were to create plenty more chances, but only a few reached the line.

Now Zoe Harrison produced the first of several perfect touch-finders. The officials needed a reminder about the 50:22 law. Sarries didn’t hold back.

Tigers, powerful up front and inventive behind, created more chances, but couldn’t profit. They muffed a promising line-out position.

An accurate grubber by Harrison forced Meg Jones to carry over her own line. From an attacking scrum Poppy Cleall picked up, but didn’t attempt a solo run; instead the ball found its way via Leanne Infante into Harrison’s hands; she jinked and was over.

In the opening minutes of this game she had already made John Mitchell’s choice of No 10 infinitely harder. And with Scaz back in armour, who else still makes the Red Roses’ side? 7-0

Now at last Tigers built a promising move. A grubber by Tahlia Brody went straight into Sarries’ hands, but they infringed on contact. Tigers profited; try to Roisin McBrien. 7-7

Sarries now infringed twice, a high then a dangerous tackle, and Tigers went through their repertoire of back moves. Sadly for them, as they approached the line a stray pass under pressure fell into Paige Farrties’ hands. Another chance gone.

We now had a dramatic passage of play. Harrison put in two lengthy clearances, but when a Tiger’s kick was touched by an opponent, Amy Cokayne found herself way in front with the ball in space. She reverted to her No 10 role and pinged the ball into Sarries’ left corner. But now it was Tigers’ turn to offend with a poor tackle.

At the quarter mark Tigers were still level, and Sarries were conceding penalties like an ever-generous Santa Claus. Tigers were causing them real problems, Meg Jones very prominent, but not the sole cause of concern to the home crowd.

Then suddenly Infante – who, you will recall, is the best scrum-half in the country – made an unlikely break down the blind-side, but, to prove my judgement all wrong, punted the ball directly into touch.
An interesting variation: Tigers withdrew both their props inside 30 minutes. International requests may have had a part to play, and, of course, props are always allowed back purely for safety reasons.

But it lent a difference to the game.

It took Sarries an age to re-enter enemy territory, but only Lotte Clapp’s failed grasp at a rolling ball prevented a score. Tigers wilfully delayed a line-out and paid the penalty (details below). After several thrusts May Campbell scored the try her side needed before they came to face with an unimpressed head coach.

Things worsened when Poppy Cleall suffered a head-on-head from Tahlia Brody. To every onlooker’s astonishment it was she who was shown a yellow card. She had allegedly spoken her mind to the referee. Is that the first time in human history that sequence has occurred? There was no TMO present to reassess what happened; a clear instance of how it is needed at every game.

Half-time 14-7

More astonishment straight after. Tigers worked themselves close to the line. At the scrum Brody picked and drove straight over the line through a gap where Cleall might have been waiting. And to think, it was Brody who might have suffered a red card for her high tackle only three minutes of playing time earlier! 14-12

Tigers undid the good work with unforced errors. Sarries profited at once, Infante spotting an invisible gap in a forest of bodies to squeeze through and over. 21-12

On the hour mark Tigers had a line-out on the hosts’ 5-metre line. Everything went to plan – try to Leah Bartlett. Even better, Jones converted from the left edge. 21-19. Cokayne departed the scene on 52 minutes. Sarries were relieved to see her go.

The game now turned into a 7-a-side affair, but with about fifty people on the field; real harum- scarum stuff.

A poweful Sarries scrum saw the ball move via Cleall and Infante to Clapp who had only to fall over the line. 26-19 That was the bonus point assured.

Memo to all Sarries’ opponents: they play an 80-minute game, and today it was to last 83 minutes. Now it was Bryony Field driving over. 33-19

A chip from Harrison caused heaps of problems. Jess Breach, only recently allowed into the fray, was twice involved, and clattered her way over the line to touch down with a spin.

A pause now to allow you to write down England’s starting back-line of seven players against Italy.

Yes, only seven.

Paige Farries, playing full-back today, extended the demolition, as Sarries showed their best form against a tiring defence. 47-19

As the game went past the 80 mark, Cleall had time to drive over close to a post. Yet another late score to prove Sarries’ stirling qualities.

But Tigers’ fans must be heartened by the great form their team showed on a big occasion; they are improving with every outing. Just a pity that, as with the other sides near the basement, they couldn’t squeeze that valuable bonus point out of an entertaining game.

Result: 54-19

Referee: Nikki O’Donnell

Lightning v Sharks

This game played out far more predictably. A pity, you might say. Lightning were 21-7 up at the interval, so still had an important target or two to face on the restart. Daisy Hibbert-Jones, their young No 8, already capped by England, revealed an interesting variation on Poppy Cleall’s earlier show by waiting patiently on the wide outside, then beating the last defender as if she was auditioning for the No 14 shirt. But you made your choice higher up my report.

Sadia Kabeya ensured the bonus point within four minutes of the restart. That helped them leap-frog above Quins who had to sit this weekend out.

The visitors’ one redeeming feature was their three tries. Like their fellow sufferers at the wrong end of the table, they are quite capable of producing the goods at the positive end of the pitch. The problem is to keep the defensive dykes from flooding.

Result: 38-15

Afterthoughts

Speeding up the game: on 35 minutes Tigers had a line-out. Nikki O’Donnell complained they hadn’t inserted the number of players they’d announced, four. They had another discussion. Then she told them to advance to their correct position. They took their time, one player not budging an inch. The almost inevitable result, an overthrow, and a try to May Campbell.

Surely, the simplest response is for the ref to give the opposition an immediate free-kick, or, even better, a penalty. The amount of time wasted at line-outs now is indefensible.

It would be fascinating to know what policies Women’s Premier 15 Ltd (WR15 Ltd) is assessing in redressing the balance between north and south. Tigers’ performance against Sarries suggests that there is really only one club left suffering in the league, and they are the solitary one lying north of the Trent. The two newcomers between them have already secured five victories.

Basics: When does PWR propose asking for applications for another new-look league? After the traditional three years or later? These are desperately serious matters. The league is disfigured by the presence of only nine clubs. When does the board consider it appropriate to invite a tenth in? Are Sharks safe? DMP Sharks weren’t when in a similar position last year.

Coverage

The StoneX intro was admirably broad, including a detailed look at Tigers. But once the game got going, we had only a Sarries’ viewpoint from Harry Scott-Munro and especially Flo Williams. This is where we ideally need two voices, one from each side, to fill us in in depth on all 46 players. Example: Sharifa Kasolo commits a high tackle. Comment: ‘Tigers lucky to get out of a tricky position.’ Would a neutral commentator have phrased the situation like that? The two Sarries co- commentators (Flo Williams and Ella Wyrwas) go on to praise Kasolo’s tackling to the skies.

When the PWR next offers full coverage, it would be a kindness if every game was available without payment needed.

Table                          P​       W​      D      L​      Pts

Glos-Pury         ​​       12      12    0       0       59
Saracens                  11      10      0 ​     1       50
Exeter​​​                      12       7       1      4        42
Bears       ​​                 12      8       0      4        41
Lightning                11      5      0       6         27
Harlequins  ​​           11      3       1       7         22
​Trailfinders      ​​​      11      3       0       8        18
Tigers​​​                      11       2       0       9         8
Sale         ​​                 11       1       0      10        3

All four league fixtures this weekend, on March 2-3, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and social media platforms, with games played at each club’s main stadium.

It will be a particularly memorable weekend for Red Rose Talling as she returns to face former club Loughborough Lightning, where her inspiring rugby journey began.

“It’s going to be massive,” she said. “Anytime a game is on TV, you know it will get visibility and sparks interest for more people to watch.

“That’s what we really need to grow the game.

“It will be a very tight match against Loughborough, which will make it even more entertaining to watch on TNT.”

For all the fixtures this weekend click here

For the latest Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby league table click here

Talling’s impressive form during her time at Loughborough earned her a call-up to England’s 2020 Six Nations squad. She made her debut against Italy aged just 18 and went on to feature in the most prestigious tournament of all – the World Cup.

“Internationally women’s rugby is doing great,” she said.

“We’ve got the World Cup next year in England and hoping to sell out Twickenham Stadium.

“I want to see the club game grow alongside that.

“We’re playing Ealing Trailfinders at the Salford Community Stadium in a few weeks and it would be great if more games are played in men’s stadiums, as it will hopefully get more people to come and watch.”

Ahead of SuperPWR weekend, the players were asked to share their own as well as their own teammates’ ‘superpowers’.

“Mine is strength,” she said. “I am strong in tackles and carries.

“Captain Georgie Perris-Redding’s got many – she’s an all-rounder. She’ll just chop people down and somehow get through everyone.

“And I need to mention Beatrice Rigoni, the Italian. She has a unique flair about her.

“Her super strength is sometimes even we don’t even know what she’s going to do – that’s a real superpower.

“And we have a brilliant coach in Rachel Taylor. Partly why I moved here is to hear from a new coach and she’s helped me so much both on and off the pitch.”

Talling has settled in well on and off the pitch but the Sharks have endured a tricky league run with just one win in their opening ten games.

She said: “We’ve had a very tough start to the season and injuries don’t help that, but we have shown what we can beat teams like Harlequins and nobody expected that.

“We’re going to strive to be the best team that we can be and focus on what’s immediately ahead. I think we’ve shown what we can do.

“I’ve had some great opportunities here to develop my leadership skills and the team is pretty special.

“I’m proud to wear my England shirt and I’m proud to wear my Sale shirt.”

With thanks to PWR

Fixture: Saturday 17 February

Gloucester-Hartpury v Sale Sharks, Hartpury College Stadium, 13.00

What a surprise that the two teams just happen to be sitting at the top (or they will be, if they win) and at the bottom of the table.

Gloucester-Hartpury

This was the game called off when G-H discovered to their horror that their mobile medical crew hadn’t arrived. Should that happen again, they can expect the 5-point penalty that is hanging over them. Since this is a rescheduled game, we shouldn’t be surprised either to find the two sides meeting again the following weekend.

For G-H this will at last be the chance to get ahead of their rivals for the top position. Ever since the postponement they have lagged that one place behind. A lead of four points would give them a little breathing space.

One curious feature of their programme has been the narrowness of several victories (24-19, 26-33, 27-33). They have shown a champion’s ability to get the nose in front at the tape, but must wonder why it has been so close.

Sale Sharks

Georgie Perris-Redding, the visiting captain, has expressed her thoughts about the Sharks’ current position. They have lost to both the new clubs, who now sit immediately above them. She is aware of the club’s disappointing displays thus far, but is determined to readjust the balance between north and south.

They have a big day on 9 March when, for the first time, they will play at Salford Community Stadium. This is the equivalent of Bristol playing at Ashton Gate, G-H at Kingsholm or even Quins at Twickenham. Their opponents will be Trailfinders, who managed to scrape home against them in the first match, but only by virtue of an unconverted try at the close.

Sharks intend putting on a real show of ‘Northern Rugby Matters’. This is a cause close to the heart of every supporter of the league. Even if the RFU and WP 15 Ltd, agree with the principle, they are finding it very hard to turn it into straightforward victories for the sole remaining northern club.

But meeting the champions two weeks running will be a hard ask.

Overseas players were a cause of Sharks’ undoing; too many of them were involved. One effect may have been for them to realise that the club picture in England is not so much better than at home. Beatrice Rigone, for example, must have expected to find a more stable platform in Cheshire for her to work on that at home.

And news just breaks that Salford Council will raise its control of the Salford Stadium ground from 50 to 100%. It is the home of the men’s club.

Table                          P​     W​      L​      Pts

Saracens                  10      9      ​1        45
Glos-Pury         ​​       9       9      0        44
Exeter​​​                     10      7       3        38
Bears       ​​                10      6      4        30
Lightning                 9      4       5        22
Harlequins  ​​           10      3       7        20  ​
Trailfinders      ​​​       9       2       7         13
Tigers​​​                      10       2      8          8
Sale         ​​                  9       1        8          3

Of those five wins at the bottom of the table, surely the most remarkable was Sale’s downing of Quins’ colours back in November.

Sharks will play at the Salford Stadium for the first time to mark the club’s International Women’s Day celebrations, with Trailfinders visiting on March 9 as part of the Northern Rugby Matters campaign.

The campaign aims to increase awareness and celebrate rugby in the region, while raising important funding for Sale Sharks Women, and flanker Perris-Redding is excited by the opportunities that the fixture will bring.

She said: “It’s massive. As everyone knows, it’s historic for us and it’s something we’ve talked about and been in discussions about for a long time, so it’s super exciting.

“When it was announced to the girls, it brought a real buzz and we’re hoping it’s going to be not just a huge day for us, but for rugby in the north and in Manchester.

“Hopefully we can really drum up a crowd and get some fans behind us for that day.”

Sale Sharks are proud of their status as the only northern-based team in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby and the 27-year-old is keen to use the spotlight as a springboard for greater participation in the sport locally.

“We can’t stay away from the battle we have up here in the north, we’re chasing the south with the game,” she said.

“With the Northern Rugby Matters campaign, this game will help us shine a light on the potential this team has. Not just this team but the north, and how it can become a hub of rugby.

“It will be a launch pad that we can use to grow the game and also empower those that are already in it.”

Round 14 kicks off on Friday 8 March when our champions, Gloucester-Hartpury face Harlequins at Kingsholm Stadium, in front of the live TNT Sports cameras.

The Sharks’ piece of history is at 2pm a day later with the weekend rounded off in fine style with Exeter Chiefs hosting Loughborough Lightning and the current leaders, Saracens making the trip to Bristol Bears on Sunday. In Round 11 both Saracens and Lightning set new league attendance records.

For all fixtures click here

Perris-Redding is hoping the Sharks’ match will serve as a motivator to push her side on as they look to climb off the foot of the table.

“When we are in these big occasions and we are the underdogs, I think that’s when the girls really come alive,” the USA international said.

“For us, Trailfinders is a target game. It’s something we’re really going to grasp at, and we’d like a big win.

“We can’t hide from it, we’ve had a really tough run. We have had a lot of open, honest conversations about where we’re at as a squad and what we can do to be better moving forward.

“We need to find out how to become that squad that people don’t want to play because they know they’re going to fight for 80 minutes.

“I think it’s sort of finding that DNA again, that northern grit.”

With thanks to Premiership Women’s Rugby 

Just one match this weekend, as Exeter Chiefs make a long journey towards the north pole to meet Sale Sharks on Sunday at the CorpAcq Stadium; kick-off 13.00. The original fixture fell foul of the weather. It’s still doing its best to upset plans.

It’s tricky to pick out one PWR club as most in need of tlc, but Sharks can make a strong case. They still trumpet their slogan “Northern Rugby Matters”, yet really they shouldn’t need to.

The world of English women’s rugby is still skewed heavily against them, while other corners of the kingdom flourish. For the sake of the game as a whole it’s essential they start to prosper.

You can see the problems in the make-up of the squad (teams listed below): plenty of impressive test players, but only the two pre-season signings, Morwenna Talling and Detysha Harper, have recently worn a white shirt, and both have suffered lengthy injuries. Sharks are heavily dependent on overseas and Celtic signings. That flies in the face of one central aim they had on claiming their place among the elite, to become a centre of excellence in the north-west. Since then, with the demise of Darlington Mowden Park, that region has swelled to embrace the whole of northern England.

High on the list of improvements to aim for will be holding on to the ball. This was a leading failure in last week’s loss to Leicester Tigers.

Exeter are keen to remind their fans that they put eleven tries on the Sharks last time round, and the hosts can expect the same amount of generosity on Sunday. Whether you’re near the top or the bottom of the table, competition remains harsh.

Chiefs now lie in third place, a whole six points behind Gloucester-Hartpury. Sharks languish eighth out of nine, only Tigers beneath them. That is the size of their challenge. At least they have games in hand.

A New Exeter

At last Chiefs can boast a host of names in the new England squad list: Maisy Allen, Brooke Bradley, Katie Buchanan, Merryn Doidge and Lizzie Hanlon. That represents an important step forward in their advance on all fronts.

In order to fulfill the ambitions of their owner, they had initially to look abroad to find players of the right quality. Over the following three years the search went on for promising youngsters coming from closer to home. Those five names are proof of the pudding. Their photos stand proudly on their social media page.

Then we recall Emily Tuttosi’s reaction to the news of likely penalties for clubs infringing qualification rules. For three years she and her fellow North Americans could enjoy life in top-flight rugby. Now their presence may be controlled by numbers instead.

Ten still seems to me a very generous total of Non-England-Qualified~Players in a weekly team squad.

Teams

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Lori Cramer 14 Claudia Macdonald 13 Merryn Doidge 12 Gabby Cantorna 11 Katie Buchanan 10 Alex Tessier 9 Brooke Bradley 1 Hope Rogers 2 Emily Tuttosi 3 DaLeaka Menin 4 Harriet Millar-Mills 5 Poppy Leith (captain) 6 Ebony Jefferies 7 Maisy Allen 8 Rachel Johnson

Bench: 16 Daisy French 17 Abby Middlebrooke 18 Lizzie Hanlon 19 Kate Smith 20 Taz Bricknell 21 Felicity Powdrell 22 Eloise hayward 23 Danielle Preece

So Tuttosi is able to start again, but a new England prospect, Hanlon, waits on the bench.

Sale Sharks: 15 Laura Perrin 14 Rachel Woosey 13 Ellen Ramsbottom 12 Katana Howard 11 Hollie Bawden 10 Mino Yamamoto 9 Mhairi Grieve 1 Anne Young 2 Niamh Swailes 3 Nick James 4 Erica Jarrell 5 Iona Antwis 6 Kay Searcy 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (captain) 8 Jasmine Hazell

Bench: 16 Molly Kelly 17 Catie Benson 18 Detysha Harper 19 Nina Moore 20 Jo Brown 21 Jess Taylor-Roberts 22 Beatrice Rigoni 23 Lauren Delany

Yes, you saw that right. Rigoni is listed at No 22

In the tightest of tight games Trailfinders came through, but only thanks to a failed Sale conversion at the close. Still, it meant a 5-pointer and a second win under their belts. More important, they have now beaten a side already established in the league; they can hold their heads high.

The debutants calmed the home crowd by starting on top. Kate Zackary exploited a strong scrum to pick and go all the way to the line. 5-0 The set-scrum was to prove a strength all through, and a heartening asset for trials to come.

There was a big worry for Sale as Morwenna Talling went down at a line-out. She was helped off the field, apparently suffering from an ankle turn. Everyone, not least the Red Roses, will wish her a speedy recovery.

But TF’s superiority at the scrum was already plain. A series of penalties near the Sale line forced the referee to run under the posts. 12-0.

It was quite a surprise when Georgie Perris-Redding found her way past a stream of would-be defenders to cross the line and bring the Sharks right back into the game. 12-7

Now Vicky Irwin saw yellow after a so-called deliberate knock-on. The result was a chance for Abby Dow to produce another breathtaking try. It started from well inside her own 22. My ruler is regrettable not long enough to measure her run, but the semi-official verdict was 85 metres. The game can seem horribly unfair when she produces a gem like that. 19-7

Both sides were guilty of failing to complete promising moves, the hookers in particular unable to find their jumpers. Even after Cristina Branco had been replaced by Elisa Riffonneau, two international No 2s were unable to profit from promising positions to help produce a score.

The hosts paid for these frailties when Sian Jones, on debut for Sharks, produced an outstanding cross-wind 50-22 to set up a series of drives completed by Detysha Harper.

Half-time: 17-12

Sharks went on the attack from the restart. Only a penalty near the home line prevented a likely score. But they persevered, winning more penalties to advance. The result was a fine try by Niamh Swailes, bundling over in the corner. Honours even. Nerves on edge.

Three times TF built promising moves, only for long kicks to run dead and concede hard-won territory.

The game swung to and fro for ages, promising moves halted by handling errors or defiant defence.

Then finally Julia Schell made the breakthrough, completing a fine move to run in under the posts. Ellie Green had an easy conversion that was to prove vital.

In the final minutes Sale hammered at the line. Now it was Rowena Burnfield’s turn to face a yellow card as her team yielded a sequence of penalties. Finally Sharks forced their way over in the corner.

That corner was to prove vital, because it meant the conversion was a bridge too far.

The game started and finished on the half-way line; it was that tight. At least Sharks had the reward of two bonus points, still a pleasant rarity.

Result: Trailfinders 24 Sale Sharks 22

Teams:

Trailfinders:

1 Andrea Stock, 2 Cristina Blanco, 3 Sara Seye, 4 Tyson Beukeboom (captain), 5 Amelia
Buckland-Hurry, 6 Rowena Burnfield, 7 Megan Barwick, 8 Kate Zackary, 9 Ella Amory, 10 Ellie
Green, 11 Abby Dow, 12 Carys Cox, 13 Julia Schell, 14 Vicky Laflin, 15 Rosie Inman,
16 Elisa Riffonneau, 17 Amanda McQuade, 18 Liz Crake, 19 Lauren Brooks, 20 Charlie Willett, 21
Emma Swords, 22 Jess Cooksey, 23 Lou Dodd

Two late changes: Liz Crake and Lou Dodd in; Cassandra Tuffnail and Lauren Knowler out

Sharks:

1 Catie Benson, 2 Niamh Swailes, 3 Detysha Harper, 4 Sara Tounesi 5 Iona Antwis 6 Rachel
McClachlan 7 Georgie Perris-Redding (co-captain) 8 Morwenna Talling 9 Sian Jones* 10 Sarah
Law 11 Nikita Prothero 12 Beatrice Rigoni 13 Eti Haungatu 14 Lauren Delany (co-captain) 15 Vicky
A. Irwin
16 Molly Kelly 17 Anne Young 18 Amber Schonert* 19 Polly Bowman 20 Jo Brown 21 Jess Taylor
Roberts 22 Minori Yamamoto* 23 Laura Perrin
*club debut

Officials

Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Holly Wood and Darryl Chapman

with thanks to rugbyreferee.net

Afterthoughts

I can think of better times to start a game than 18.30 on a cold December evening under barely adequate lights.

Which club takes the prize for the most adverts on its shirt?

Red Rose Morwenna Talling is also named in a Sharks matchday 23 for the first time after starring for England in the recent WVX competition.

After recovering from an achilles injury suffered on England duty, prop Harper lines up alongside Catie Benson and hooker Niamh Swailes in the front row for Sharks.

Italian international Sara Tounesi lines up alongside Iona Antwis in the second-row with Brown joining Rachel McLachlan and former DMP Sharks number 8 Hazell in the back-row.

Wales international Jess Taylor-Roberts starts at scrum-half with Scotland’s Sarah Law for company at fly-half.

And they’ll have more internationals outside them with US Eagle Katana Howard joined for the first time by Italian superstar Rigoni.

Hollie Bawden and captain Lauren Delany start on the wings with Laura Perrin lining up at full-back.

After returning to the club from Loughborough Lightning, Molly Kelly lines up on the bench. She’ll offer front row cover along with Anne Young and US international Nick James.

Fellow Eagle Alycia Washington and new signing Talling are the other forwards replacements, while Mairi Grieve, Vicky A Irwin and Prothero will cover the backs.

15. Laura Perrin, 14. Lauren Delany ©, 13. Beatrice Rigoni, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Hollie Bawden, 10. Sarah Law, 9. Jess Taylor-Roberts, 1. Catie Benson, 2. Niamh Swailes, 3. Tysh Harper, 4. Sara Tounesi, 5. Iona Antwis, 6. Jo Brown, 7. Rachel McLachlan, 8. Jasmine Hazell.

16. Molly Kelly, 17. Anne Young, 18. Nick James, 19. Alycia Washington, 20. Morwenna Talling, 21. Mairi Grieve, 22. Vicky A Irwin, 23. Nikita Prothero.

With thanks to PWR

It adds a second Red Rose to their ranks after Detysha Harper made the same move from Loughborough Lightning. Both these players have northern roots, Harper in Manchester, Talling in North Yorkshire. It is highly welcome news that at last the north-south drift is reversing.

At the same time Sharks have signed Nikita Prothero, an England Under 20 loose forward. This age-group side will provide a profitable source of material for clubs casting around (desperately?) for added playing strength.

For Lightning the news is more concerning. Like Gloucester-Hartpury, they are a central nursery for future stars. Unlike G-H they haven’t been able to attract top talent for a while. Remember the astonishment when they announced the signing of Katy Daley-Mclean, Emily Scarratt, Justine Lucas and Jo Brown in the early days of the Premier 15s!

With Scarratt and Helena Rowland missing from huge chunks of the 2022-23 season, their challenge has faltered. In stark contrast G-H have gained big-name players and are approaching a first-ever final.

Any move that improves Sharks’ chances is good news for the league. One glance at the map and you see their ground as a lonely outpost of what is supposed to be all-England territory (to use a tennis phrase).

We can expect further avalanches of signings across the coming weeks. Few clubs will feel they have all it takes to complete a winning seventh season of the AP 15s with their current stock.

During the recent tender process, for entry into the league from the 2023/24 season onwards, eight clubs were granted places. However, the tender panel made a strong recommendation for the RFU and Women’s Premier 15 Ltd (WP15) to explore how greater geographical spread could be provided in the league.

The RFU and WP15 recognise the need to grow the game in the North of England and acknowledge the challenges faced in the region. The RFU has therefore developed a package of support to grow the game in the North, which coupled with a strategy for further investment will allow Sale Sharks to adequately address the feedback from the tender panel.

Worcester Warriors Women have recently secured funding to enable them to continue to operate, therefore, they have also been offered a conditional place, subject to providing the required information requested by the RFU.

Once the Premier 15s NewCo Board is established, it will be the responsibility of the Board (and shareholders) to consider any league expansion for the 2024/25 season onwards and the process or system for entry.

Belinda Moore, CEO of Women’s Premier 15s LTD said: “It’s a really exciting time for women’s rugby at all levels, and we’re really pleased to see 10 clubs now moving forwards in their preparations for joining Allianz Premier 15s for next season.”

Alex Teasdale, RFU Women’s Game Director said: “We know rugby in the North can be disproportionately challenged. We have therefore responded to the panel’s recommendation to explore if a northern club could be part of the league. Given the importance of having a northern provision, we believe with the proposed support package Sale Sharks will be well placed to continue their work to develop and grow rugby in the region.

“Worcester narrowly missed out on being awarded a place in the initial tender. The club’s circumstances are now changing and we believe it is only fair to also offer to work with them on a conditional basis to also continue to deliver elite rugby in the region.”

Separately, The RFU, as part of the women’s competition review, has been working for the past six months to develop a solution for those clubs that have not been offered a place at this stage and those that wish to join Premier 15s in the future, and this work will continue with the RFU and WP15 working with the clubs to find appropriate playing opportunities for the 2023/24 season and beyond.

Charlie Hayter, RFU Women’s Rugby Performance Manager added: “Our goal is to keep building strength in depth across the women’s game and we will work with clubs and WP15 to build an integrated system of opportunities to compete at every level.”

With thanks to the RFU

Saracens v Sale Sharks

The Sunday game saw Sarries put the game to bed by half-time, but then stand accused of going to bed themselves.

Once more Sharks proved what a force they could become by posting no fewer than five tries against the runaway leaders. They started well, but couldn’t find the all-important gap in Sarries’ defensive armoury. Instead, Holly Aitchison and Alex Kelter were devastating exploiters of lost possession.

Chips over the top always seemed to finish in their hands, and promising moves finished over the line time after time.

Chantelle Miell caught a deep clearance kick to run most of the length of the left touch-line – another expensive lesson for defending kickers.

Kat Merchant warns against the dangers of the inside pass, but Aitchison’s to Lotte Clapp sent her sailing over. A multiple move saw the two locks combining for the final pass under the posts, try to Catha Jacobs. Alysha Corrigan, another to have a productive game, fed Aitchison who added the fifth try.

It took Sale nearly till the break to produce a passing move that left a winger with an inch of usable space. She was Jodie Ounsley, who showed pace and agility to run clear to the line.

Half-time 31-7

A glance down at the final score shows the size of Sharks’ achievement. Ounsley added a second, starting as first receiver, accepting an off-load from Lizzie Duffy on the loop and stepping her way past grasping arms.

Kelter widened the gap again with a fine try, but their only further score came from her boot in front of the posts.

Sharks were helped by a yellow for Kelsey Clifford to add dominance up front, but even after she returned, the home pack came under considerable pressure. Catie Benson got a prop’s reward for hard work at the coal-face. Sarah Law showed the range of her abilities by burrowing over on the end of a long Sharks’ attack. Vicky Irwin completed the fifth try after more forward pressure.

Sarries are now sure of a home tie in the play-offs. Will they be signing on any more leading players before the season ends?

Result: Saracens 41 Sale Sharks 33

Officials

Referee: Holly Wood
ARs: Darryl Chapman and Bill Burton

with thanks to rugbyreferee.net

Table ​​​                      P​     W​      L​       D    Pts

Saracens​​               15      14      1     0    67
Bristol​​​                   16      ​11      4     1    59
Exeter​​​                    16      11     4     1     56
Harlequins  ​​         16      11      5     0  ​  55
Wasps                    16       9     6      1 ​   50
Loughborough ​​​    16       8      6     2    46
Gloucester-H        15        7      ​7     1    41
Worcester​​              16        4    12     0   24
Sale                   ​​      15         1    15   0      8
DMPDS​​                  16         ​0​   16    0      0