PWR Round 4 review

Saracens produced a stunning comeback against Gloucester-Hartpury to match Exeter Chiefs with four wins from four while Harlequins edged a pulsating encounter in a hair-raising fourth round of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Chiefs beat Trailfinders Women 36-25 while Quins saw off Loughborough Lightning 22-19. In Saturday's late game, Bristol Bears were at their attacking best in a 57-10 win over Sale Sharks. Then on Sunday, Saracens came from behind to beat champions Gloucester-Hartpury 49-38 in a classic.

HARLEQUINS 22-19 LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING – TWICKENHAM STOOP

Harlequins edged out a nail-biter at The Stoop, narrowly beating Loughborough Lightning 22-19 in a thrilling encounter filled with turnovers, intercepts, and last-minute heroics.

Loughborough struck first as Bo Westcombe-Evans dived over in the 12th minute, finishing off a sweeping move set up by Helen Nelson.

Emily Scarratt expertly slotted the conversion to give Lightning a 7-0 lead.

Quins fought back, pressuring Loughborough’s scrum and the home side’s persistence paid off when Connie Powell crashed over from a driving maul in the 27th minute.

Lisa Neumann then intercepted a cross-field kick just two minutes later, sprinting to the line to turn the game on its head with Quins 10-7 ahead.

Lightning responded before halftime as Laura Keates powered over from close range after a dazzling run from Bulou Mataitoga, with Scarratt adding the extras as Loughborough took a 14-10 lead into the break.

Lightning extended their lead early in the second half, with Meg Davey sniping over from close range, but the missed conversion kept Quins within striking distance at 19-10.

Quins clawed back in the 65th minute as substitute Carys Phillips crossed for a try, closing the gap to just four points.

Then, in a moment of magic, Ellie Kildunne showcased her blistering pace, sprinting from her own 22 to score under the posts in the 75th minute.

Lagi Tuima’s conversion pushed Quins into a 22-19 lead.

Lightning mounted pressure in the closing minutes, but Quins held firm, securing a last-gasp turnover to seal the victory as the final whistle blew.

Harlequins:

Tries - Powell, Neumann, Phillips, Kildunne

Loughborough Lightning:

Tries - Westcombe-Evans, Keates, Davey

EXETER CHIEFS 36-25 TRAILFINDERS WOMEN – SANDY PARK

Exeter Chiefs maintained their perfect start to the season, securing a fourth consecutive win with a hard-fought 36-25 triumph over Trailfinders Women at Sandy Park.

Trailfinders were quick to make their mark, securing an early 50/22 for a chance to attack, but a misdirected lineout saw Chiefs clear. Just two minutes later, Cristina Blanco powered over from a dominant driving maul to put Trailfinders ahead, with Emma Taylor adding the extras.

Chiefs swiftly responded through Sabrina Poulin who found the corner in the 25th minute, but Taylor extended Trailfinders lead from a pinpoint penalty.

The Chiefs kept building momentum, and their rolling maul came to life, allowing Rachel Johnson to crash over and level the score, but again Taylor nudged Trailfinders back in front with a penalty before halftime, setting up a tight 13-10 contest at the break.

The second half saw the Chiefs push forward with confidence, capitalising on a yellow card for Trailfinders' Andrea Stock. Cliodhna Moloney and Clara Nielson both crossed in quick succession, with Liv McGoverne adding a conversion to extend the lead.

Hope Rogers then added another try from close range, giving Chiefs a 29-13 cushion.

Trailfinders fought back as Abby Dow dived over in the corner and, minutes later, Julia Schell intercepted on her own line to run the length of the field, with Taylor’s conversion cutting the gap to just four.

However, Lori Cramer sealed the Chiefs’ victory with a late try after a sweeping move.

Exeter Chiefs

Tries - Poulin, Johnson, Nielson, Rogers, Cramer

Trailfinders Women

Tries - Blanco, Dow, Schell

SALE SHARKS 10-57 BRISTOL BEARS - CORPACQ STADIUM

Six first-half tries set the foundations for Bristol Bears' - win over Sale Sharks.

It took the visitors just three minutes to open the scoring when back-row forward Gabriella Nigrelli dotted down.

Awarded a penalty try minutes later, Bears' lead continued to grow when Alisha Joyce-Butchers sent Courtney Keight aver the whitewash with a fizzed pass out wide.

Niamh Swailes would respond for Sale, but any hopes of a comeback were scuppered when returning Red Rose, Sarah Bern, registered Bristol's fourth of the night.

With the bonus point secure, Abbie Ward and Jasmine Joyce added some more gloss to the scoreline ahead of half-time.

In the second half Meg Webb, Joyce and Lark Atkin-Davies continued Bristol's dominance, while Scarlett Fielding's try for Sale was nothing more than a consolation.

Dave Ward's Bears host Harlequins next Friday night at Shaftesbury Park, while Sharks visit back-to-back champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

Sale Sharks

Tries - Swailes, Fielding

Bristol Bears

Tries - Nigelli, Keight, Bern, Ward, Joyce (2), Webb, Atkin-Davies

SARACENS 49-38 GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY - STONEX STADIUM

Saracens came out on top in a thrilling clash between two of the league's big guns, triumphing 49-38 over reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

Despite trailing by 12 points at half-time, Sarries were able to turn the game on its head to take all five points and send off Leanne Infante in style.

The former Red Roses scrum-half was calling time on her career after this encounter - her 100th appearance for Saracens, and she was able to sign off with a win.

Gloucester-Hartpury had made the perfect start with early tries from Mackenzie Carson and Emma Sing to lead 12-0, but Sarries roared back as Bryony Field, Gabby Senft and McKinley Hunt all crossed for a 21-12 lead.

In a game where both teams enjoyed purple patches, the visitors finished the first half on fire, Rachel Lund closing the gap before Zoe Aldcroft brought up the bonus point to restore Gloucester-Hartpury's lead. There was time for a fifth try for the champions before the break, Nel Metcalfe over in the corner and Emma Sing converting to make it 33-21.

May Campbell then scored the first try of the second half for Sarries, but Gloucester-Hartpury responded with Lund's second to lead by 10.

From there, it was all Saracens however, with Jemma-Jo Linkins getting over on the right to cut the deficit to three before a second for Campbell put Saracens ahead. And they had the final say with Senft's second at the death sealing the win.

Saracens

Tries: Field, Senft 2, Hunt, Campbell 2, Linkins

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries: Carson, Sing, Lund 2, Aldcroft, Metcalfe