PWR Round 10 review
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Gloucester-Hartpury got revenge with an important win over Saracens as Hope Rogers ran riot for leaders Exeter Chiefs in Round 10 of Premiership Women's Rugby.
The Circus put their defeat to Sarries firmly behind them in a seven-try display at Kingsholm.
Chiefs also scored seven with four coming from Rogers as they defeated Trailfinders Women while Harlequins beat Loughborough Lightning in another high-scoring thriller.
Trailfinders Women 22-41 Exeter Chiefs – Trailfinders Sports Ground
Four tries for Hope Rogers capped a resounding victory for table-toppers Exeter Chiefs at Trailfinders Sports Ground.
Grace White opened the scoring for the hosts after only two minutes Hope Rogers hit back with a close-range try.
The pattern repeated itself as Kat Evans moved Trailfinders back in front before Rogers responded not long after to again tie the score.
With her hat-trick, Rogers moved Chiefs into the lead for the first time on 34 minutes, scoring three tries in the space of 20 minutes.
From there, Chiefs sewed up the bonus point with a try from Sabrina Poulin to hold a 12-point lead at the half.
Evans claimed her second of the match just after the restart as she went over from a maul but Exeter again responded and once again it was Rogers to go over.
Emily Tuttosi had been a late replacement to Chiefs’ starting XV but looked at home as she got her side’s sixth of the game from a lineout.
Katie Buchanan added the gloss on the league leaders’ victory with a smooth score having been set up well by Liv McGoverne before Annabel Meta had the final say with a bonus-point try for Trailfinders.
Trailfinders Women 22
Scorers: Grace White, Kat Evans (2), Annabel Meta
Exeter Chiefs 41
Scorers: Hope Rogers (4), Sabrina Poulin, Emily Tuttosi, Katie Buchanan
Gloucester-Hartpury 47-31 Saracens – Kingsholm
Gloucester-Hartpury enacted revenge over Saracens with a thrilling 47-31 victory against the three-time champions.
The hosts had lost to Sarries earlier in the season but were not to be beaten at Kingsholm as tries from Kate Williams and Nel Metcalfe gave them a 12-point lead after 20 minutes.
Rosie Galligan got the visitors onto the scoresheet before a Zoe Harrison penalty narrowed the gap to just two.
Natasha Hunt widened the advantage again only for Harrison to convert her own try to see Gloucester lead 19-17 at the break.
After the break, it was Emma Sing’s turn to convert her own try before Harrison got her second of the afternoon to keep the match on a knife edge.
Maud Muir powered over to keep her side in front, but the defending champions were never comfortable as Kelsey Clifford dotted down while Harrison stayed perfect from the tee.
Neve Jones gave the hosts some breathing room before Mackenzie Carson made certain of Gloucester-Hartpury's win with the Circus’ seventh of the day.
Gloucester-Hartpury 47
Scorers: Kate Williams, Nel Metcalfe, Natasha Hunt, Emma Sing, Maud Muir, Neve Jones, Mackenzie Carson
Saracens 31
Scorers: Rosie Galligan, Zoe Harrison (2), Kelsey Clifford
Loughborough Lightning 22-40 Harlequins – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Harlequins came from behind to beat Loughborough Lightning 40-22 away from home.
Daisy Hibbert-Jones had put Lightning ahead in the eighth minute after bulldozing her way over.
Lagi Tuima’s pin-perfect kick then put Harlequins in a great position and Connie Powell did not waste the opportunity as she dived across the whitewash.
Alev Kelter again moved Loughborough ahead before skipper Jade Konkel saw Harlequins take a two-point lead at the break.
Silvia Turani extended the gap for the visitors in the second half, but Loughborough remained in touching distance thanks to a Sadia Kabeya try.
Quins claimed their try bonus point through Emma Swords before Loughborough Lightning followed suit thanks to a Kathryn Treder try.
Konkel’s second of the game saw her score from a strong carry to the line before a final try from Danielle Lochner confirmed Harlequins’ win.
Loughborough Lightning 22
Scorers: Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Alev Kelter, Sadia Kabeya, Kathryn Treder
Harlequins 40
Scorers: Connie Powell, Jade Konkel (2), Silvia Turani, Emma Swords, Danielle Lochner
Bristol Bears 54-17 Sale Sharks - Shaftesbury Park
Bristol Bears dominated from the beginning to defeat Sale Sharks 54-17.
Lark Atkin-Davies scored an early try in the eighth minute to give Bears an early lead but Rachel Philipps equalised for Sharks to equalise after a sensational carve through the opposition by her teammate Sophie Hopkins.
Sarah Bern responded for Bears soon after to edge the hosts back in front but Sharks levelled again through Beatrice Rigoni.
Bears went into the break 26-12 ahead thanks to Ella Lovibond and a penalty try.
The hosts extended their lead after the break with a second try from Atkin-Davies to 33-12.
Holly Thorpe scores the final try of the game for Sharks before Bears dominates the rest of the match with tries from Millie David, Jess Sprague and Holly Aitchison to finish with 54-17.
Bristol Bears 54
Scorers: Atkin-Davies (2), Bern, Lovibond, David, Sprague, Aitchison, Penalty Try
Sale Sharks 17
Scorers: Philipps, Rigoni, Duffy