Allianz Premiership women's rugby-Round 13 review

Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby's SuperPWR Weekend burst into action on Saturday.

Gloucester-Hartpury continued their unbeaten run in front of TNT cameras against Exeter Chiefs while Bristol Bears claimed a win on the road over Trailfinders Women.

The weekend hosted another two explosive encounters on Sunday as Saracens scored eight tries against a feisty Leicester Tigers and Loughborough Lightning picked up their fifth win this term against Sale Sharks.

Gloucester-Hartpury 31-24 Exeter Chiefs (Kingsholm)

Gloucester-Hartpury continued their unbeaten run with a resounding 31-24 victory over Exeter Chiefs in a tense rematch of last year’s final.

Emma Sing drew first blood at Kingsholm on the six minute mark as she collected her own deft chip to dive over. Pip Hendy joined her back-three companion another six minutes later with a score of her own.

It took ten minutes for the next try to arrive, this time through Chief hands. Canadian international Emily Tuttosi dotted down from the back of a classic Exeter driving maul and Gabby Cantorna added the extras.

Hope Rogers joined in the scoring antics for the visitors five minutes later but Cantorna’s kick richocheted off the post this time. 

Georgia Brock claimed her first of the afternoon before the break giving Gloucester a slender five point lead.

Tuttosi secured her second try within five minutes of the second half but Linde van der Velden saw yellow shortly after for a high shot.

Mo Hunt seized the opportunity and sniped over for a score a minute later while player of the match Brock found her second with fifteen minutes left on the clock.

Eilidh Sinclair dove over in the right hand corner at the death but it was little consolation for the visitors.

Gloucester-Hartpury - 31

Tries: Emma Sing, Pip Hendy, Georgia Brock (2), Natasha 'Mo' Hunt

Exeter Chiefs - 24

Tries: Emily Tuttosi (2), Hope Rogers, Eilidh Sinclair

Trailfinders Women 10-38 Bristol Bears (Trailfinders Sports Club)

Bristol Bears claimed a dominant 38-10 victory over Trailfinders Women in Ealing on SuperPWR Weekend.

Cristina Blanco dived over to open the hosts’ account in the eleventh minute and start a clash where the final score didn’t reflect proceedings.

Bears responded just eight minutes later through Wales international Gwenllian Pyrs who found the whitewash after a series of battering pick and gos. 

Amber Reed added the extras to give the West Country outfit the edge and they extended their lead further when Red Rose Lark Atkin-Davies powered through for a try of her own shortly after.

Tempers flared at the half an hour mark as prop Hannah Botterman’s back chat sent her to the sin bin but Ealing took full advantage. Vicky Laflin gathered a delicious Julia Schell cross-field kick and cruised over in the corner to make it two tries apiece.

Bristol launched a final assault in the dying moments of the half and came away with another try from Pyrs. 

The visitors added three more tries in the second half thanks to Botterman and a Lana Skeldon brace, securing the bonus point and taking a well-fought game beyond reach.

Trailfinders Women - 10

Tries: Cristina Blanco, Vicky Laflin

Bristol Bears - 38

Tries: Gwenllian Pyrs (2), Lark Atkin-Davies, Hannah Botterman, Lana Skeldon

Saracens 54-19 Leicester Tigers (StoneX Stadium)

Saracens ran riot in a 54-19 triumph over Leicester Tigers at StoneX Stadium.

SuperPWR weekend returned with a fierce battle in front of the YouTube livestream on Sunday as the Londoners notched up eight tries.

Zoe Harrison scored the first try of the afternoon on the six minute mark for Sarries but it wasn’t long before Leicester’s Roisin McBrien responded after several waves of attack.

A cagey twenty minutes ensued until the three-time champions came back to life as May Campbell drove over from short range.

Poppy Cleall was shown a yellow card for swearing at the referee shortly after, opening the door for the visitors to hit back with a try from Tahlia Brody after the break.

With two points separating the teams, England international Leanne Infante sniped over with half an hour to go.

Leah Barlett picked up her own try for Tigers but the hosts cruised away from that point onwards.

Successive tries from Lotte Clapp, Bryony Field, Jess Breach, Paige Farries and Poppy Cleall gave Saracens their tenth win of the season.

Saracens - 54

Tries: Zoe Harrison, May Campbell, Leanne Infante, Lotte Clapp, Bryony Field, Jess Breach, Paige Farries and Poppy Cleall

Leicester Tigers - 19

Tries: Roisin McBrien, Tahlia Brody, Leah Barlett

Loughborough Lightning 38-15 Sale Sharks (cinch stadium at Franklin's Gardens)

Loughborough Lightning claimed their fifth win of the season in a 38-15 battle with Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens.

Daisy Hibbert-Jones led the charge for the home side four minutes in when she stormed her way over the line for her second try this term.

It took fourteen minutes for the East Midlands outfit to extend their lead through captain Rachel Malcolm who dived in from close range.

Rachel Taylor’s side responded shortly after through their captain Georgie Perris-Redding but Lightning hit back again when Kathryn Treder dropped onto the whitewash from a relentless catch and drive.

The hosts had a dream start to the second half as Red Rose Sadia Kabeya was unleashed by Bulou Mataitoga for the bonus point.

Lilli Ives Campion came off the bench in the final twenty to claim a try of her own but Sale weren’t rolling over. 

Niamh Swailes and Caite Benson drove home for the Northerners before Carys Williams-Morris added the gloss to Lightning’s convincing performance.