PWR Round 2 Review: Bristol run riot while, Saracens, Gloucester Hartpury and Loughborough Lightning win

Exeter Chiefs 31-47 Gloucester Hartpury

Red Roses Tatyana Heard and Emma Sing helped Gloucester Hartpury maintain their perfect start to the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with a 47-31 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

The defending champions got off to the perfect start when Nel Metcalfe spotted a gap in the Chiefs defence to dart over the line and touch down beneath the posts.

It was a lead Heard would double minutes later, but the hosts soon fought back as Maisy Allen dotted down a response after 21 minutes.

But Gloucester Hartpury were quick to reassert their dominance and secured a bonus point before half-time as a brilliant solo effort from Sing was sandwiched by further scores from Heard and Metcalfe.

The sides exchanged tries after the break as Allen grabbed her second and Heard secured a hat-trick, racing in at the corner which Sing converted brilliantly.

And while DaLeaka Menin’s entry brought another two scores for Exeter Chiefs who made a valiant comeback attempt, a penalty try to the visitors and a rampant first half proved too much to overcome.

Exeter Chiefs: 31

Tries: Maisy Allen (2), Sabrina Poulin, DaLeaka Menin (2)

Conversions: Liv McGoverne (3)

Gloucester Hartpury: 47

Tries: Nel Metcalfe (2), Tatyana Heard (3), Emma Sing, Penalty

Conversions: Emma Sing (5)

Bears run riot

Bristol Bears eased to a dominant 74-0 victory over hosts Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The visitors led from the sixth minute after Evie Gallagher got the Bears up and running and they never looked back. 

Wingers Millie David and Reneeqa Bonner cashed in on all of their opportunities with some excellent finishes. David scored four altogether, while Bonner completed a hat-trick of her own. 

Ella Lovibond also scored a brace, finishing off a 50-metre break to close her personal account for the day. 

The game was finished off by Bonner’s third, as the Bears took all five points in style. 

Leicester Tigers 0

Bristol Bears 74

Tries: David (4), Bonner (3), Lovibond (2), Gallagher, 

Conversions: Bevan (5) Hesketh (2)

Lutui on form for Lightning

Loughborough Lightning edged out Sale Sharks 19-12 in a tense encounter to earn their first win of the new season. 

The first half was a cagey, stop-start contest that produced only five points. Tahlia Brody broke through to score with 22 minutes on the clock in her first start for Lightning. 

But the second half started with a flash as Hainela Lutui powered over, only three minutes after the teams came out of the sheds. 

Sale then answered back as Sharifa Kasolo worked her way over from a pick and go, but Loughborough caught Sharks napping and Lutui went over for her second just two minutes later. 

Sharks continued to search for a way back into the game, but could only muster a consolation score through Rhona Lloyd with the clock in the red. 

Loughborough Lightning 19

Tries: Brody, Lutui (2)

Conversions: Nelson (2)

Sale Sharks 12

Tries: Kasolo, Lloyd

Conversions: Aitchison

Saracens claim capital bragging rights

Saracens swept aside their London rivals Harlequins with a convincing 47-10 victory at StoneX Stadium.

Alysha Corrigan starred for the hosts, finishing a brilliant try with only two minutes on the clock. Kelsey Clifford and Jemma Jo-Linkins also crossed the whitewash inside the first 10 minutes as Sarries flew out the blocks. 

Quins looked to have sparked a fight back after the rapid Saracens start when Katie Shillaker crossed the white wash to make it 19-5, but Laetitia Royer’s score on debut stretched the gap before half time. 

The second half was a tighter contest for the majority. Corrigan completed her brace while Ellie Kildunne got one back for the visitors, before Sarries completed the job late on. 

Tries from Louise McMillan and Amelia Macdougall inside the last 10 minutes capped off a brilliant Saracens performance as the North Londoners seized the bragging rights.

Saracens 47

Tries: Corrigan (2), Clifford, Jo-Linkins, Royer, McMillan, Macdougall

Conversions: Harrison (6)

Harlequins 10

Tries: Shillaker, Kildunne.