PWR Round 11 Review: Sharks and Saracens claim comeback wins

Sale Sharks claimed their second victory of the season with a comeback triumph over Trailfinders Women in Round 11 of Premiership Women's Rugby.

Meanwhile, Gloucester Hartpury rang up a perfect 10 wins with a professional victory over top-four chasers Harlequins.

Sunday sees Exeter Chiefs take on Loughborough Lightning before Saracens host Bristol Bears.

Gloucester Hartpury 45-22 Harlequins

Sisilia Tuipulotu’s quickfire double set Gloucester Hartpury on their way to a 45-22 win over Harlequins at Kingsholm.

Kate Williams, on as an early replacement for Sam Monaghan, darted over for the hosts before Quins responded through Ella Cromack as the ball was worked out wide.

Tuipulotu powered over for her first on 26 minutes and followed up five minutes later as she broke through several tackles.

Quins responded just before the break through Lauren Torley before the sides traded tries from close range as Kelsey Jones dotted down for the hosts before Liana Mikaele-Tu'u did the same for Harlequins.

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Tatyana Heard streaked over on her way to the Built For Athletes Player of the Match award before Aoife Wafer got the try her hard work deserved. 

Maud Muir was given Gloucester’s sixth on review as she stretched to the line before Lucy Simpson wrapped up the victory on 74 minutes. 

Trailfinders Women 31-36 Sale Sharks 

A late Charlotte Fray try handed Sale Sharks their second win of the season in a thrilling 36-31 win over Trailfinders Women. 

Trailfinders took the lead on 17 minutes through a penalty try as Sale were overwhelmed in the scrum, but the visitors hit back through Asia Hogan-Rochester, who scored their first try for Sharks. 

The two sides then traded tries with Cristina Blanco crossing twice either side of a maul try for Sale to see Trailfinders hold a five-point lead at the break. 

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The hosts’ lead stretched to 10 immediately after the restart as Alivia Leatherman took advantage of the player advantage to earn the bonus point.

Brittany Hogan hit back for Sale before Georgia Ponsonby again extended the Londoners' lead, but that was to be the hosts’ final points of the game.

Amy Cokayne kicked off the comeback with a try from close range before Charlotte Fray charged down a clearance kick and scored herself to move Sale into the lead before a late Lizzie Duffy penalty made certain of victory.

Exeter Chiefs 26-5 Loughborough Lightning

In the midst of a Sandy Park deluge, Exeter Chiefs managed to navigate their way to a bonus point victory in massively difficult conditions.

Chiefs lead the opening exchanges and took the lead in the eleventh minute when Francesca Granzotto finished of some grunt work by the Exeter pack in the corner.

Loughborough replied quickly through Kathryn Treder, only for Chiefs to drag the lead back with consecutive scores from Amy Rule and Hope Rogers.

Then the rain came in abundance, and neither side could string together adequate attacking phases due to the atmospheric conditions.

The vast majority of the was played in the middle of the park, until Chiefs finally worked their way up to the Loughborough line with 2 minutes to play.

Dorothy Wall was the beneficiary and secured Exeter's bonus point which pushes them up to third in the table, strengthening their push for a play-off spot.

Saracens 36-33 Bristol Bears

Saracens conjured a stunning second half comeback from 26-12 down to earn five points against Bristol Bears with a last gasp Zoe Harrison penalty kick.

Bears dominated the opening half an hour, and secured their try scoring bonus through a Sarah Bern brace along with tries from Millie David and Ruahei Demant.

Bristol's fourth score clearly sparked Saracens into life, and Kelsey Clifford scored twice in quick succession to end the first half with Sarries on top.

Saracens continued to surge back after the break, and May Campbell found her way over on the back of the rolling maul, before Olivia Apps put the hosts on level terms with the score 26-26.

Campbell then sent the StoneX faithful into raptures as she gave Sarries the lead, powering over from short range to make it 33-26.

Bears wouldn't lie down, however, and Keira Bevan took a smart quick tap to dive over the line and level the contest again.

Harrison had the last laugh from the tee when she slotted a penalty from 45m with just a minute on the clock to ensure her side took the full five points.