News
PWR Preview: Round 12
Teams up and down the league are jostling for position as The PWR enters round 12 with play-off places becoming ever more competitive.
There are three games on Saturday as Trailfinders Women travel up to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks host Harlequins, and play third when Saracens battle Exeter Chiefs.
To close out round 12 on Sunday, Loughborough Lightning host Bristol Bears at cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens.
Here is all the information you need to know.
Saturday 21st February
Leicester Tigers v Trailfinders Women - 1:15pm Live on YouTube
Trailfinders Women travel to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, looking to bounce back from their 36-31 loss to Sale Sharks last week.
The west Londoners are without a win since Round 7, the last time they faced Leicester Tigers, and need a result if they are to keep pace with their fellow play-off hopefuls.
Shya Pinnock starts in the engine room with Scottish international Emma Wassell, while Abi Burton captains the side from the back row.
Leicester Tigers are still searching for their first win in the PWR this season, but will be well rested after a week off last week.
Tess Feury leads the Tigers from fly-half, with Eneka Labeyrie inside her at scrum-half, who replaces experienced nine Jenny Maxwell.
Team News
Leicester Tigers: 15. Amelie Anstead 14. Eve Slater 13. Emily Henrich 12. Jemima McCalman 11. Karolina Kacirkova 10. Tess Feury © 9. Eneka Labeyrie 1. Ellie Smith 2. Micke Gunter 3. Nadine Vincent 4. Deni Ross 5. Emerson Allen 6. Hermione Farmer 7. Morgan Richardson 8. Tiana Gordon
Replacements: 16. Alicia Watkins 17. Beth Cregan 18. Clodagh Dunne 19. Leah Heath 20. Jordan Russell 21. Jenny Maxwell 22. Kristin Bitter 23. Abileigh Priestnall
Trailfinders Women: 15. Niamh Gallagher 14. Grace White 13. Emma Uren 12. Jess Cooksey 11. Rosie Inman 10. Ella Amory 9. Isla Norman-Bell 1. Alivia Leatherman 2. Niamh Swailes 3. Cassandra Tuffnail 4. Emma Wassell 5. Shya Pinnock 6. Emma Taylor 7. Sally Williams 8. Abi Burton ©
Replacements: 16. Hayley Jones 17. Annabel Meta 18. Maya Montiel 19. Cara Brincat 20. Haidee Head 21. Brooke Bradley 22. Vicky Laflin 23. Ellie Boatman
Officials
Referee: Daniel Rowlands
Assistant Referees: Ben McNamara, Daryl Chapman
Oval Insights
Leicester Tigers
- Leicester Tigers Women lead the league with 6 restarts retained this season (6.3% restart retention rate).
- Leicester Tigers Women lead the Premiership with 5 attacking catch successes this season, while Rhona Lloyd ranks 1st individually with 4.
- Leicester Tigers Women rank 2nd in the league for lineout success (84.6%) this season.
- Leicester Tigers Women have scored 1 maul penalty try this season (joint 1st) but also missed the most tackles (371) for a league-low 66.6% tackle success rate.
Trailfinders Women
- Trailfinders Women boast the league's best defence with an 82.4% tackle success rate this season and 88.9% in the latest round (both 1st in league).
- Georgia Ponsonby is tied for 2nd in the Premiership with 7 tries scored this season and ranks 4th for lineout throws won (57).
- Kate Zackary ranks 2nd in the league for total successful tackles (150) this season.
- Trailfinders Women dominated territory in the latest round with 18 visits to the opposition 22 and 23 possessions in the opposition half (both 1st in round).
Sale Sharks v Harlequins - 3pm Live on YouTube
Sale Sharks will be flying into round 12 after a brilliant win over Trailfinders Women last week.
The Sharks were previously without a win since round one but bucked that trend with a top class performance at Trailfinders Sports Club.
Canadian World Cup star Asia Hogan-Rochester makes their first start for Sharks on the wing, joining Rhona Lloyd and Lizzie Duffy in the back three.
Harlequins enter round 12 following a spirited performance against Gloucester Hartpury at Kingsholm.
Although Quins fell to a 45-22 defeat they displayed a massive amount of quality with the ball in hand that will give the group confidence as they travel north.
There is no Ellie Kildunne for Quins, as she is replaced by Kayleigh Powell at full-back. Jade Konkel captains, alongside Fi McIntosh in the engine room.
Team News
**Sale Sharks:**15. Lizzie Duffy, 14. Rhona Lloyd, 13. Evie Wills, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Asia Hogan-Rochester, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Olivia Ortiz ;1. Tysh Harper, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Nick James, 4. Morwenna Talling, 5. Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 6. Eva Donaldson, 7. Georgie Perris-Redding ©, 8. Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: 16. Milly Hyndman, 17. Molly Wright, 18. Evie Roach, 19. Charlotte Fray, 20. Sharifa Kasolo, 21. Shona Campbell, 22. Beatrice Rigoni, 23. Katie Childs.
**Harlequins:**15. Kayleigh Powell 14. Lauren Torley 13. Claudia Peña 12. Lagi Tuima 11. Freya Aucken 10. Ella Cromack 9. Emma Swords 1. Zara Green 2. Carys Phillips 3. Lizzie Hanlon 4. Fi McIntosh 5. Jade Konkel (C) 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u 7. Sara Svoboda 8. Aoife Wafer
**Replacements:**16. Maja Meuller 17. Laura Delgado 18. Ruby Winstanley 19. Abbie Fleming 20. Maddy Page 21. Lucy Burgess 22. Beth Wilcock 23. Lisa Neumann
Officials
Referee: Ben Simpson
Assistant Referees: Simon Williams, Gregg Dawson
Oval Insights
Sale Sharks
- Sale Sharks Women lead the Premiership in lineout throws won (115) and total lineouts (138) this season.
- Amy Cokayne leads the league with 6 tackle turnovers won this season and topped the latest round with 11 lineout throws won.
- Georgie Perris-Redding made 28 successful tackles in the latest round (most in league).
- Sale Sharks Women dominated the scrum in the latest round, winning 13 from 14 (both highest in round), while also securing 14 turnovers (1st in round).
Harlequins
- Harlequins Women rank 2nd in the Premiership for carries (1,448) this season.
- Jade Shekells beat 9 defenders in the latest round (most in round) and leads the league with 15 initial breaks this season.
- Lucy Packer ranks 2nd in the league with 8 try assists this season and leads the Premiership with 36 box kicks.
- Ellie Kildunne ranks 2nd in the league with 747 metres made this season and recorded the 3rd most carry distance (107m) in the latest round.
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs - 7:30pm Live on BBC iPlayer
Saracens host Exeter Chiefs at The StoneX Stadium to round out Saturday, as they look to move to the top of the table.
A bonus point win over the Chiefs would send Sarries above Gloucester Hartpury on points difference, as the Cherry and Whites have a week off in round 12.
Tori Sellors and Zoe Harrison start at half-back with Sophie Bridger and Sydney Gregson in the midfield.
Exeter Chiefs will be looking to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot having been in fine form of late.
They travel to the capital just three points ahead of Quins in fourth and eight points ahead of Trailfinders in fifth.
Hope Rogers and Amy Rule both start at prop following their tries last week, joined by Emily Tuttosi at hooker.
Team News
Saracens: 15. Jess Breach 14. Alysha Corrigan 13. Sydney Gregson 12. Sophie Bridger 11. Lotte Sharp 10. Zoe Harrison 9. Tori Sellors 1. Kelsey Clifford 2. May Campbell 3. Donna Rose 4. Julia Omokhuale 5. Jodie Verghese 6. Gabrielle Senft 7. Marlie Packer 8. Poppy Cleall
**Replacements:**16. Bryony Field 17. Liz Crake 18. Carmen Tremelling 19. Louise McMillan 20. Laetitia Royer 21. Amelia MacDougall 22. Emma Hardy 23. Paige Farries
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sabrina Poulin 14 Francesca Granzotto 13 Alex Tessier 12 Gabby Cantorna 11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald 10 Liv McGoverne 9 Flo Robinson 1 Hope Rogers 2 Emily Tuttosi 3 Amy Rule 4 Linde van der Velden 5 Abby Duguid 6 Zoë Dare 7 Maisy Allen © 8 Maddie Feaunati
Replacements16 Eleanor Febrey 17 Demi Swann 18 DaLeaka Menin 19 Kate Smith 20 Gabriella Nigrelli 21 Lucy Nye 22 Naomi Brennan 23 Merryn Elworthy
Officials
Referee: Mike Hudson
Assistant Referees: James Pidding, Simon Adams
Oval Insights
Saracens
- Saracens Women lead the Premiership with 68 tries scored and 440 total points this season (1st in both categories).
- May Campbell leads the league with 9 tries scored this season, while Poppy Cleall tops the offload charts with 21 (1st in league).
- Saracens Women recorded a league-best 83.3% goal kick success rate in the latest round, with Zoe Harrison contributing 41 successful goals this season (1st in league).
- Saracens Women have won 73 turnovers this season (most in the league) and recorded 16 dominant tackle contacts in the latest round (also 1st).
Exeter Chiefs
- Exeter Chiefs Women lead the Premiership in carries (1,512) this season.
- Maisy Allen leads the league with 190 successful tackles this season and secured 3 turnovers in the latest round (joint 1st).
- Dorothy Wall topped the latest round with 24 carries while ranking 4th for tackles (24).
- Alex Tessier recorded the highest kick metres per kick average (41.7m) in the latest round while Flo Robinson executed 5 box kicks (joint 1st in round).
Sunday 22nd February
Loughborough Lightning v Bristol Bears – cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens – 3pm on TNT Sports
Both sides will be hoping to get back to winning ways when Bristol Bears travel to Northampton to face Loughborough Lightning for the Sunday’s PWR clash.
Bears suffered a narrow 36-33 loss on the road to Saracens last week, despite a brace from Sarah Bern and 13 points scored by Keira Bevan.
But it is a result that should give them confidence as they travel to sixth-placed Lightning who sit just seven points ahead in the league.
In contrast, Loughborough suffered a 26-5 defeat to Exeter Chiefs on the road in Round 11 but will be buoyed by returning to their familiar stomping ground in the East Midlands as well as the return of Red Rose star Sadia Kabeya.
She forms one of three changes for Lightning as Bears also opt for the same number of switches heading into the clash.
Team news
Loughborough Lightning: 15 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Lis Maude; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Rachel Ehrecke, 6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Tahlia Brody, 21 Kendall Waudby, 22 Aoibhe Kelly, 23 Lucia Scott
Bristol Bears: 15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Jaz Joyce, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Meryl Smith, 11 Millie David, 10 Ruahei Demant (cc), 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Maisie Davies, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Sarah Bern (cc), 4 Hollie Cunningham, 5 Delaney Burns, 6 Christiana Balogun, 7 Pamphinette Buisa, 8 Evie Gallagher
Replacements: 16 Amy Dale, 17 Aisha Jah, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Demelza Short, 20 Jenny Herring, 21 Jenny Hesketh, 22 Jenna De Vera, 23 Chloe Daniels
Match Officials
Referee: Natarsha Ganley
Assistant referees: Rebecca Piddlesden and Emily Hope
Oval Insights
Loughborough Lightning
- Loughborough Lightning dominated the latest round's maul statistics with 7 mauls won and 2 maul penalties won (both 1st in round).
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Helen Nelson topped the kicking charts in the latest round with 16 kicks in play for 521 kick metres (both 1st in round).
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Alev Kelter beat 8 defenders in the latest round (2nd most) and leads the Premiership with 61 defenders beaten this season.
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Loughborough Lightning achieved 100% lineout success in the latest round (1st) while Lilli Ives Campion secured 2 lineout steals (most in round).
Bristol Bears
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Bristol Bears Women topped the latest round with 169 carries, 960 carry distance and 212 post-contact metres (all 1st in round).
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Emma Orr led the latest round with 7 dominant contacts and 34 post-contact metres (both 1st).
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Evie Gallagher made 42 ruck entries in the latest round (most in league) and leads the Premiership with 17 turnovers won this season.
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Bristol Bears Women rank 1st for breakdown activity with 2,548 total ruck entries this season and 277 attacking ruck entries in the latest round.
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