ALLIANZ PREMIERSHIP WOMEN'S RUGBY: ROUND 18 REVIEW

This 2023-24 Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-finalists have been confirmed as the regular season came to a close in Round 18.

Reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury will host Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm in a repeat of last season’s final, with the Devon club entering the contest fresh from a 59-27 victory over Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.

Saracens also prepared for the knockouts with victory, picking up a 33-24 bonus point win over Loughborough Lightning on the final day of the season to set a date with Bristol Bears in a week's time.

Elsewhere Trailfinders Women ended their inaugural season with a 54-27 win over their capital rivals Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.

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Exeter Chiefs 59-27 Leicester Tigers - Sandy Park

Exeter Chiefs will storm into the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby playoffs on a high following a 59-27 victory over Leicester Tigers.

First year university student Connie Clarke dominated on her first start in a Chiefs shirt, notching two tries and an assist in the opening half.

Hope Rogers, Brooke Bradley and Katie Buchanan also crossed the whitewash to give the visitors a 31-15 lead at the break.

Red Rose Maddie Feaunati opened the second half with a brace of her own, intercepting the Tigers ruck and dashing home for her first before chasing down a chip kick for her second just minutes later.

Chiefs ultimately were the stronger side, racking up a mighty nine tries in front of their home crowd but Tigers did not go down without a fight.

They hit back late through Tahlia Brody and Charlotte Fray, both weaving through the Chiefs defence to close the gap, but ultimately fell to defeat in their final game of the season.

Exeter Chiefs - 59

Tries - Rogers, Bradley, Clarke (2), Buchanan, Feaunati (2), Doidge (2)

Leicester Tigers - 27

Tries - Gallagher, Nicholas, Brody, Fray

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Harlequins 27-54 Trailfinders Women - Twickenham Stoop

Trailfinders Women closed out their maiden Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign with a resounding 54-27 win against Harlequins.

England international Abby Dow got the visitors off to a flying start, ripping possession in a tackle and running the length of the field to open the scoring inside a minute.

Things got even better for Trailfinders Women minutes later when Meg Barwick charged down a kick and Liz Crake touched down the loose ball to score.

A penalty from Ella Cromack put the hosts on the board, but soon after Trailfinders were back on the front foot and scored their third through a clinical mazing run, finished by Carys Cox.

The hosts hit back with a driving maul, steered from the base by skipper Jade Konkel-Roberts, but the visitors rebutted with a second try for Dow, who collected an offload and outpaced a defender before dotting down.

Lagi Tuima sauntered over to get one back for Harlequins before Julia Schell stormed down the left wing and scored to put Trailfinders ahead at the break.

The teams exchanged tries after midway through the second half before a moment of individual brilliance from Dow brought up her hat-trick.

Katie Shillaker got one back for Harlequins but the visitors had the final say as Abi Burton scored under the posts to close out a thrilling fixture.

Harlequins - 27

Tries -  Konkel-Roberts, Tuima, Powell, Shillaker  Penalties - Cromack (1)

Trailfinders Women - 54

Tries - Dow (3), Crake, Cox, Schell, Riffonneau, Burton

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Loughborough Lightning 24-33 Saracens - cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

Saracens prepared for their home semi-final against Bristol Bears with a hard-fought victory over Loughborough Lightning at cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens.

Scotland international Chloe Rollie opened the scoring in the 13th minute, the full-back gliding through the Saracens defence as Lightning started brightest.

Motivated by going behind, Alex Austerberry’s team responded within five minutes as a converted Sharifa Kasolo drive from close range opened the Londoners’ account.

Loughborough’s Bo Westcombe-Evans handed her team the lead six minutes later with her ninth try of the season, only for Leanne Infante’s dummy try gave Saracens the lead at the break.

Bulou Mataitoga restored Loughborough’s lead 10 minutes into the second half, however it was a short-lived renaissance for the hosts.

Saracens continued their dominance in their opponents 22m and dotted down through Bryony Field and a double for replacement scrum-half Tori Sellors to take firm control of the contest.

There was consolation for Lightning who locked up a try scoring bonus point as Rollie used her dancing feet once more to cross the whitewash.

Loughborough Lightning - 24

Tries - Rollie (2), Westcombe-Evans, Mataitoga

Saracens - 33

Tries - Kasolo, Infante, Field, Sellors (2)

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Sale Sharks 27-24 Bristol Bears - CorpAcq Stadium

Sale Sharks came out on top in an electric 27-24 battle against Bristol Bears in their final game of the season.

It was a back and forth fight throughout and Sharks got the ball rolling as Lauren Delany paced down the left wing and forced her way over in the far corner for the first points of the day.

Bears bit back immediately with Lark Atkin-Davies crossing the line on her return from injury before a flurry of tries on both sides.

But it was Amber Reed's conversion just before the break that proved pivotal to the visitors, edging them ahead by a mere two points.

The second half started just as ferociously, with a break down the left putting Sale ahead before Ella Lovibond's score set them back once more.

With the clock ticking, the home side had the advantage through Thorpe's brace, dotting down in the corner on 67 minutes and it was there they stayed.

The home side held on for victory in a tense final 10 minutes to clinch just their third win of the season in front of a roaring crowd.

Sale Sharks - 27

Tries - Lauren Delany, Vicky E Irwin, Holly Thorpe (2)

Bristol Bears - 24

Tries - Lark Atkin-Davies (2), Alisha Butchers, Ella Lovibond