ALLIANZ PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY: ROUND 12 REVIEW

Round 12 of the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby got underway with a bang on Friday night.

Trailfinders Women picked up a 29-14 victory against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, while in front of the TNT Sports cameras Bristol Bears overcame Loughborough Lightning.

Saturday afternoon saw the first draw of this season, as Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins shared the spoils with a 19-19 draw, while on Sunday Gloucester-Hartpury maintained their unbeaten run with a win over Sale Sharks.

Leicester Tigers 14-29 Trailfinders Women (Mattioli Woods Welford Road)

A strong first half for Trailfinders Women saw Giselle Mather's team leave the East Midlands with five points on Friday night.

Liz Crake scored two tries as the London club bettered Leicester Tigers over the course of 80 minutes at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Opening the scoring in the 12th minute, Crake's score was followed up with tries for Julia Schell and Abby Dow before the 30 minute mark. 

In response Tigers would respond through Elis Martin, however Crake's second try of the night took momentum out of Leicester's hands once more.

To start the second half Tahlia Brody dotted down for Leicester, however the game was decided as a penalty for Schell in the 48th minutes decided the clash.

Leicester Tigers - 14

Tries: Martin, Brody

Trailfinders Women - 29

Tries: Crake (2), Schell, Dow

Bristol Bears 33-17 Loughborough Lightning (Ashton Gate)

Over 3000 supporters made their way to Ashton Gate Stadium to watch Bristol Bears secure a bonus point win over Loughborough Lightning.

Bears opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Simi Pam, although Lightning would soon be level again thanks to a Hallie Taufoou effort. 

Lana Skeldon and Abbie Ward both crossed the whitewash before the 40-minute mark, although Lightning did strike back through Sadia Kabeya.

Skeldon's sixth try of the season handed Dave Ward's team the bonus point in the 46th minute. Lightning's fate was all but secured 17 minutes later when Evie Gallagher crashed across.

Loughborough would respond with a late try for Helena Rowland, however it was the home fans that went home much the happier.

Bristol Bears - 33

Tries: Pam, Skeldon (2), Ward, Gallagher

Loughborough Lightning - 17

Tries: Taufoou, Kabeya, Rowland

Exeter Chiefs 19-19 Harlequins (Sandy Park)

After playing almost 90 minutes as Sandy Park on Saturday afternoon, nothing could separate Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins as they drew 19-19.

With 17 minutes played, Connie Powell gave Quins the lead after being driven across at the back of the maul, although Exeter would take the lead just three minutes later a DaLeaka Menin saw her score converted by Gabby Cantorna.

Claudia MacDonald continued her potent try scoring form with another score before the break, while Bablwa Latsha kept the score within two points with a powerful try before the break.

Each team registered a try a piece in the second half. Harlequins' effort came from the newly introduced Heather Cowell, who scored with her first touch of the match, before the scores were levelled thanks to a flowing Exeter move that saw Katie Buchanan dot down.

With the game on the line end-to-end drama followed. Both teams had their chances with the clock in the red. Harlequins' Lagi Tuima missed a penalty, while Chiefs struggled to maintain possession deep in opposition territory. 

Exeter Chiefs - 19

Tries: Menin, MacDonald, Buchanan

Harlequins - 19 

Tries: Powell, Latsha, Cowell

Sale Sharks 19-43 Gloucester-Hartpury (CorpAcq)

Gloucester-Hartpury maintained their unbeaten run in the league with a commanding 43-19 win over Sale Sharks on the road.

The reigning champions did not take long to get off the mark, as Pip Hendy finished off a fine move in the corner with only two minutes on the clock.

Sharks responded and took the lead when captain Georgie Perris-Redding scored off a pick-and-go from a few metres out.

But that slight advantage didn’t last long, with Kelsey Jones dotting down off the back of a clinical Gloucester rolling maul.

Maud Muir cut a fine line to crash through and score before Sarah Beckett pounced on a loose ball to bring up the bonus point for the visitors.

Gloucester weren’t done there, as Siobhan McCarthy ran in under the posts to give her side a 29-7 advantage at the break.

Momentum stayed with Gloucester in the second period as they notched another try through Gwen Crabb, but Sharks hit back with a score of their own when Eti Haungateau got on the end of a well-executed move to go in under the posts.

Gloucester managed to pick up their seventh try of the game when Neve Jones acrobatically finished over a ruck, but Sharks had the final say, Hollie Bawden crossing over to score for the hosts.

Sale Sharks - 19

Tries: Perris-Redding, Haungateau, Bawden Conversions: Vicky Irwin (2)

Gloucester-Hartpury - 43

Tries: Hendy, K. Jones, Muir, Beckett, McCarthy, Crabb, N. Jones Conversions: George (3), Mai-Manns