Wins for Richmond (pictured), Saracens, Wasps and Lichfield closed out the English women's rugby Premiership ahead of the Six Nations break. Richmond are still four points clear at the top of the table despite Saracens grabbing a bonus-point and they are now the only two in with a shout of the title with just a couple of games remaining in March and April.
Saracens 32 Bristol 15
Saracens came out on top 32-15 in a well fought game against Bristol. Despite a strong wind at times, the conditions were good for attacking running rugby from two very youthful Premiership team line-ups.
Saracens territorially had the early domination camping in the Bristol 22m for large periods of the first half, however final inaccuracies in their execution and both teams being heavily penalised at the breakdown ensured the scoreline remained tight. The set piece was shared equally by the two teams, with Bristol dominant at line out and Saracens having the nudge at scrum time and it was the latter that ensured Saracens got on the scoreboard first when a good scrum against the head allowed standout Captain, Sonia Green to race away off the back of the scrum. Her distribution freed up rampaging centre Darel Poole to touchdown under the posts.
Brown successful with the conversion gave the home side a 7-0 leadThe breakdown became a lottery and with England prospects Hannah Gallagher of Saracens and Marlie Packer of Bristol lining up against one another in a brilliant battle of the open sides, both teams struggled to maintain any true continuity. Following another penalty at the breakdown, Brown gave Saracens a 10-0 lead with a relatively simple penalty kick. This lead was extended when flying winger Zara Handley found a few metres of space to score in the corner and taking Saracens15-0.
Bristol came back in to the game well with Poppy Cleall and Zoe Saynor both prominent and dangerous in the loose. The excellent Sian Moore did well moving quick ball away from the breakdown allowing Katie Mason a fine score in the corner and putting
Bristol on the board and the score 15-5 at the end of the first half.Bristol started the stronger with Saracens discipline causing some problems. Marly Packer was first to react off a penalty and from 5m out ran hard and direct clean through the Saracens defence to touch down and get Bristol very much back into the game 15-10. The game remained a physical encounter with both team's forwards in a relentless tussle to ascertain any form of momentum. Saracens managed a response when skipper Green who was excellent throughout, once again led the charge and demonstrating a terrific turn of speed to make her way to the line from 40m out for a virtuso solo effort.Brown was successful with the conversion, 22-10.
The Saracens pack continued to rampage on and yet another dynamic burst from the outstanding Green, who was just brought down by great cover defence from Bristol fullback Kay Wilson, set up another opportunity for Saracens. A series of close charges from Saracens eventually resulted in a well deserved score for Green who rose from the final pile of bodies. 27-10. Bristol's back row once again worked their way back into the game and not to be outdone by her number eight counterpart, Bristol's hardworking Izzy Noel Smith burrowed over for their third try, 27-15.
Saracens still in the hunt for the all-important bonus point, got their wish when the youthful duo of Peedle and Rielly showed terrific speed and distribution skills to free up the dangerous Handley. The young winger mesmerised the crowd with one of the finishes of the season, showing her footwork and pace to score in the corner for a wonderful individual score, her second of the game and Saracen's fifth.
For the team and scorers from this game see here
Richmond 27 Darlington Mowden Park 5
It was business as usual at the Athletic Ground as Richmond achieved another bonus point victory to stay top of the table.
Just five minutes in and Richmond demonstrated their attacking intentions when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and chose to kick for touch. From the resulting attack Richmond came within a hairs breadth of the line on three occasions before knocking on and losing possession in the face of fine away side defence.
Darlington were next to put the pressure on when they broke down the wing through Ruth Leyborne who was a potent attacking weapon all evening. However, her chip kick went straight to full back Abi Chamberlain who got Richmond back into the opposition’s half.
Gemma Rowland was given the ball on the wing, but tried to score the hard way by running back into traffic. The ball was recycled and Rachael Burford took route one to score the opening try; 5-0.Richmond scored again when Lindsey Wheeler turned the ball over on the half way line and Jo O'Sullivan made up ground on the wing. Richmond chose to scrum when Darlington Mowden Park were penalised, but when immediately awarded another penalty Whitney Howman took a quick tap spreading the ball via Amy Turner to Ellie Martinez Garcia who scored in the corner; 10-0.
Darlington had the best of the following period and raced up the pitch where Katy McLean found herself in space. Richmond's cover defence halted her, but could not put her down and she dived in at the corner. She missed the conversion from wide so the teams went in 10-5 at half time.
Darlington opened the half with an assault on the Richmond line, but Richmond mounted a more sustained attack keeping the Sharks inside their half for most of the first 15 minutes. The pressure finally told when Rowland broke down the wing and Burford touched down for her second;15-5.
Immediately after Burford, who had a strong game at fly half, broke out of her 22 and the resulting attack led to a penalty 5 metres from the opposition line. From the penalty tap, Ellie Martinez Garcia scored her second; 20-5.
The majority of the possession and territory remained with Richmond. Having shifted up a gear after half time, and despite Darlington Mowden Park continuing to battle, Richmond were now comfortably in control.
Richmond sealed the win with a deserving try from Nic Hoole. Both Hoole and O'Sullivan looked dangerous all evening and it seemed only a matter of time before one of their breaks led to a try. Chamberlain converted her first of the day to leave the final score at 27-5.
For the team and scorers from this game see here
OA Saints 0 Lichfield 55
OA Saints hosted Lichfield on their final Premiership home game of the season. With the wind in their favour, Lichfield used the boots of fly half Tash Jones and England centre Emily Scarratt to pin OAs deep in their own half and worked the phases to create several attacking chances within the first 5 minutes.
The Saints defence held strong with excellent tackling from fly half Nicky Cameron and flanker Caroline Pretty keeping the Lichfield attack at bay. OAs cleared their line well through the boot of Scotland international centre Caroline Collie and relieved the pressure. The first score came 15 minutes in from Lichfield wing Rose Jay who outpaced the Saints defence to score in the corner. Scarratt missed the conversion to leave the score 0-5 to the visitors.
OAs came back at Lichfield straight from the kick off with some great set piece play at the lineouts to give centres Collie and Simone Shepherd good attacking opportunities in midfield. After a few turn overs from either side, Lichfield kicked for territory and forced Saints into their own half where Lichfield hooker Vicki Fleetwood exploited a missed tackle and scored under the posts. Scarratt converted to make the score 0-12.
Fleetwood added to her score within minutes finding space with some excellent footwork and support play to score under the posts. Scarratt converted, 0-19.
Centre Collie made an excellent break in midfield to find space in behind the Lichfield line and was unlucky to be brought down about 10m short of the line with a great cover tackle from Lichfield full back Saskia Brazier Kobus. OAs made use of the quick ball created with Lichfield rushing to get back but could not get the ball out wide quick enough to put some points on the board and Lichfield cleared their lines well. Half time score – 0-19.
Lichfield started off the stronger team in the second half with hooker Fleetwood again on the score sheet with 2 tries in 8 minutes. With a Scarratt conversion the score was now 0-36 with half an hour to play.
The Saints fought back and with the wind in their favour worked their way up the pitch through some fluent phases of play with runs from captain and number 8 Leah Carey and prop Ellisha Dee creating holes in midfield for backs Allie O’Donovan and full back Kate Barnes to come through in support. Saints number 9 Bethan Jones and the forward pack worked the phases well to test Lichfield’s discipline and force them to concede several penalties which centre Collie kicked for touch to use the line out. The Saints line out worked well with number 8 Carey and second row Emily Coleman combining at the back to give the backs quick ball. Fly half Cameron kept her composure and distributed well but the Lichfield defence remained unbroken. Lichfield conceded several penalties on their own line and the Saints were unlucky to get turned over at the crucial time where Lichfield cleared to touch.
Lichfield continued to switch the direction of attack well with fly half Jones pulling the strings and added tries through Scarratt, Tash Jones, Rachel Jones and Stacey Maguire in the final half hour, Scarratt with 2 conversions to make the final score 0-55. Lichfield, the more experienced side used their possession well and were more clinical in finishing their chances but OAs showed much promise in attack and improved defence in their first match back after Christmas and there are plenty of positives to take into the next game against Worcester after the 6 Nations break
For the team and scorers from this game see here
Wasps 20 Worcester 8
Wasps kept up their excellent form with a strong win at home over Worcester.
Awaiting match report for this game.
For the team and scorers from this game see here
