Saracens Remain Top of the Table After Round 8 – De Goede and Farries Notch Tries
Saracens remain undefeated in the women’s English Premier competition, there were 3 Canadians in the starting lineup for the Saracens, Sophie de Goede #6, Paige Farries #14 and McKinley Hunt #1.
Weekend Summary from Premier15s.com
Saracens claimed the spoils in a highly-anticipated clash with Exeter Chiefs which lived up to the pre-match billing.
The two sides shared 11 tries at the StoneX Stadium, with the hosts only able to breathe easily after Leanne Infante’s late interception try which put the seal on a 39-26 victory.
Gloucester-Hartpury kept their own unbeaten start going with a narrow 33-27 win at Trailfinders Women, setting up another mouthwatering clash for the Cherry & Whites against Saracens next weekend.
Kathryn Treder’s double, including a decisive late try, earned a dramatic win for Loughborough Lightning at Harlequins while Bristol Bears came out on top against Leicester Tigers.
Saracens 39-26 Exeter Chiefs (StoneX Stadium)
Saracens finished with a flourish to overcome fellow high-flyers Exeter Chiefs in an entertaining top-of-the-table clash.
Ella Wyrwas and May Campbell crossed to open up an early 12-0 advantage for the hosts but Chiefs hit back to lead with converted tries from Hope Rogers and the in-form Cliodhna Moloney.
Sophie de Goede’s try ensured Sarries went into half time 17-14 in front only for the pendulum to swing again as Claudia MacDonald restored Chiefs’ lead early in the second half.
Paige Farries was next to cross as Saracens went narrowly ahead and Jess Breach pounced on a loose ball to extend the advantage.
Marlie Packer and an 80m interception try from Leanne Infante made the points safe for the hosts but Chiefs kept battling and had the last word through Kanako Kobayashi.
Saracens – 39
Scorers: Try – Wyrwas, Campbell, de Goede, Farries, Breach, Packer, Infante
Exeter Chiefs – 26
Scorers: Try – Rogers, Moloney, MacDonald, Kobayashi
Leicester Tigers 12-50 Bristol Bears (Mattioli Woods Welford Road)
Bristol Bears turned on the style in their first match of 2024 by running in seven tries against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The visitors started on the front foot and almost went ahead in the 16th minute only for Meg Varley to be denied by a brilliant try-saving tackle from Francesca McGhie.
Tigers’ respite was brief as Deborah Wills crossed for Bristol’s opening try shortly afterwards and the Bears had a bonus point in the bag by half time thanks to further scores from Varley, Meryl Smith and Delaney Burns, with Ellis Martin responding for the hosts.
Tahlia Brody reduced the deficit early in the second half and another try was ruled out for a forward pass as Bears hung on with 13 players following two yellow cards in quick succession.
They then stretched their advantage in the closing stages courtesy of a fine individual score from Holly Aitchison, who gathered her own grubber kick to cross, along with a penalty try and one apiece from Tilly Smale and Abbie Ward.
Leicester Tigers – 12
Scorers: Try – Martin, Brody
Bristol Bears – 50
Scorers: Try – Wills, Varley, Smith, Burns, Aitchison, Penalty, Smale, Ward
Harlequins 26-29 Loughborough Lightning (Twickenham Stoop)
Kathryn Treder’s late score completed a remarkable fightback from 19-0 down as Loughborough Lightning claimed a dramatic victory at Harlequins.
Quins raced out the blocks with two tries from Shaunagh Brown either side of Lagi Tuima’s score opening up a convincing advantage inside the opening 20 minutes.
But Lightning began to find their feet as the half wore on and Georgina Tasker latched on to Helena Rowland’s kick to get them on the board.
Treder’s first of the afternoon reduced the deficit to 19-12 at the break before two tries in quick succession from Bo Westcombe-Evans and Hallie Taufoo put the visitors in front.
Aseza Hele powered over to restore Quins’ advantage but Treder crossed with just two minutes to go to settle a thrilling contest.
Harlequins – 26
Scorers: Try – Brown (2), Tuima, Hele
Loughborough Lightning – 29
Scorers: Try – Treder (2), Tasker, Westcombe-Evans, Taufoo
Trailfinders Women 27-33 Gloucester-Hartpury
Reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury kept their unbeaten start to the season going with victory over a spirited Trailfinders side.
Rachel Lund and Liz Crake traded tries inside the opening 10 minutes and the first half remained nip-and-tuck, Crake dotting down for her second shortly after Lleucu George had crossed for the visitors.
Neve Jones finished off a rolling maul to open up some breathing space for the Cherry & Whites, who secured a bonus point in the dying stages of the first half courtesy of Sarah Beckett.
Ella Amory and Vicky Laflin crossed for the hosts either side of the hour mark to reduce Gloucester’s lead to six points and set up a grandstand finale.
Mo Hunt’s score five minutes from time settled the outcome but Trailfinders kept battling and secured a losing bonus point when Julia Schell’s late try was converted by Ellie Green.
Trailfinders Women – 27
Scorers: Try – Crake (2), Amory, Laflin, Schell
Gloucester-Hartpury – 33
Scorers: Try – Lund, George, Jones, Beckett, Hunt
League Table
Saracens v Exeter Match Video