PWR Round 1 Review: Champions on song while Quins, Chiefs and Sale win

Harlequins 52-42 Loughborough Lightning

Harlequins started their season with a bonus point win over Loughborough Lightning in an instant classic.

Loughborough Lightning dominated the early proceedings through Bo Westcombe-Evans' opener, which was quickly followed by Lucy Calladine's score.

Quins levelled less than ten minutes later as Abbie Fleming and Beth Wilcock both crossed the whitewash.

Alicia Maude then responded for the visitors, only for Lightning to concede a penalty try minutes later levelling it up.

Lauren Torley was next to score for Quins with only three minutes before the break, but right on half-time, Sadia Kabeya dotted down to edge Loughborough into the lead as the teams went into the sheds.

The second half only saw more chaos as Nicole Whythe scored only three minutes after kick off, and minutes later Claudia Peña got in on the act to widen Harlequins' lead.

After Sara Svodoba saw yellow, however, Kathryn Treder hit back for Lightning. Only three minutes later, Jade Konkel stretched the gap to two scores, only for Amelia Williams to drag Loughborough back into it again with her late try.

Finally, Hannah Sims wrapped it up for Quins as she crossed with one minute to play, giving the hosts all five points.

Harlequins: 52

Tries: Abbie Fleming, Beth Wilcock, Penalty, Lauren Torley, Nicole Whythe, Claudia Peña, Jade Konkle, Hannah Sims

Loughborough: 42

Tries: Bo Westcombe-Evans, Lucy Calladine, Alicia Maude, Sadia Kabeya, Kathryn Treder, Amelia Williams

Trailfinders Women 12-24 Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs took all five points from their trip to Trailfinders Sports Club after a dominant first half display.

Scores from Liv McGoverne, Hope Rogers and Gabriella Nigrelli gave Chiefs a 19-0 lead after they controlled every aspect of the game in the first 40.

The visitors continues to run proceedings as the second half began. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald went over in the corner to give Exeter their try bonus before Trailfinders had registered a point.

However, Trailfinders replied straight away through Kate Zackary and momentum shifted.

The hosts attempted to make a comeback as Georgia Ponsonby went over on the back of a strong Trailfinders maul, but it was in vain as Chiefs held on for the victory.

Trailfinders: 12

Tries: Kate Zackary, Georgia Ponsonby

Exeter Chiefs: 24

Tries: Liv McGoverne, Hope Rogers, Gabriella Nigrelli, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald

Sale Sharks 46-17 Leicester Tigers

Sale Sharks swept Leicester Tigers aside in front of a sold out Morson Stadium to earn their first five points of the season.

The sharks were at it from the off as Amy Cockayne scored a try in the first ten minutes of her debut, quickly followed by a 50 metre breakaway from Erica Jarrell-Searcy and a penalty try after a dominant rolling maul.

Sale continued to press the issue. Holly Thorpe, Rhona Lloyd and Katie Childs all scored before Tigers got one back through Tess Feury on the stroke of halftime making it 34-5 going into the sheds.

Sharks started the second half in the same style as the first. Amy Relf broke the line from the base of the ruck on her debut and flew away from Tigers defence to score from half way.

Trudy Cowan then got in on the act from short range before Tigers replied with Feury's second. Tigers then capped the game off with a penalty try of their own from the maul.

Sale Sharks: 46

Trie: Amy Cockayne, Erica Jarrell-Searcy, Holly Thorpe, Rhona Lloyd, Katie Childs, Amy Relf, Trudy Cowan, Penalty

Leicester Tigers: 17

Tries: Tess Feury (2), Penalty

Gloucester Hartpury 40-14 Saracens

Champions Gloucester Hartpury made a strong start to their bid for a fourth straight PWR title as they overpowered Saracens.

Tries from Maud Muir, Kelsey Jones and Jade Shekells opened up a 19-0 half-time lead for The Circus, who secured their bonus point through Sam Monaghan early in the second period.

May Campbell got Saracens on the board but the hosts responded quickly as Jones added her second before streaking further clear as Tatyana Heard got in on the act.

Sarries had the last word through Amelia MacDougall but that did little to take the shine off an impressive afternoon's work for the home side.

Gloucester Hartpury 40

Tries: Muir, Jones (2), Shekells, Campbell, Heard

Saracens 14

Tries: Campbell, MacDougall