JAECOO Next Gen Cup: Chiefs off the mark and Sarries two from two

Exeter Chiefs got their JAECOO Next Gen Cup campaign off to a winning start as Saracens made it two wins from two.

Chiefs were not in action in week one but made up for lost time with a convincing win over Leicester Tigers.

And in Sunday’s second game, Saracens held off a stubborn Sale Sharks side to go two from two in the competition.

Chiefs hit the ground running

Exeter gave seven players debuts for their clash with Leicester Tigers and that cohort of newcomers enjoyed a fine start to life at Sandy Park with a 67-13 success.

Gabriella Nigrelli and Lola Whitley both crossed in the first 15 minutes, either side of an Izzy McGuire Evans penalty to make it 12-3 to Chiefs.

Debutant Tilly Ryall then added a third try as Exeter led 17-3 at the break before pulling away in the second half.

Three tries in eight minutes put the result beyond doubt, Zoë Dare, Alessia Skeates and new Welsh international hooker Carys Phillips helped make it 38-3.

Danielle Preece and Ellie Wood pushed the score to 50, with Liv McGoverne enjoying a fine day from the kicking tee.

Leicester responded with tries from Eve Slater and Zara Pickwick, either side of Preece’s second, before she completed her hat-trick and then Sammie Harris ran in the 11th Chiefs try.

Sarries go two from two

A week after they had beaten Tigers, Saracens wasted no time in their home opener against Sale.

Daisy Fitzgerald got the ball rolling with the first try after just two minutes and when Tori Sellors matched her soon after, they were 12-0 up with less than 10 minutes gone.

Sophie Hopkins pulled a try back for Sale but an immediate response from Saracens through Jemma-Jo Linkins made it 19-5 at the break.

Sale had finished the first half strongly without being able to score but finally got themselves back into it when a rolling maul was pulled down, resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card for Poppy Cleall.

But any chance of a comeback was ended when Emma Hardy crossed for Sarries’ fourth try nine minutes from time, sealing the 26-12 victory.