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PWR Round 3 Preview
Premiership Women’s Rugby is now in full swing as we enter round three with all the clubs now having had their first taste of action.
Bristol Bears will return to Shaftesbury Park for their first home clash of the season while also trying to maintain an unbeaten start alongside Gloucester Hartpury.
Trailfinders travel to Salford in search of their first win of the season against Sale Sharks as the two sides who underwent considerable change in the summer meet.
Saturday 8 November
Sale Sharks v Trailfinders Women – Morson Stadium – 3pm
In their second game of the season, Trailfinders Women head to Morson Stadium aiming to register their first win of the new season.
They fell to 24-12 defeat at home to Exeter Chiefs on the opening weekend of the season but had round 2 off to reset.
Barney Maddison has made three changes in the hopes of changing that form around with Maya Montiel coming in at tighthead while Ella Amory and Claire Gallagher are handed their first starts this season at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
They will be led by Kate Zackary who was named as club captain earlier in the week, but will face a tough challenge in Salford.
Their opponents will also be hoping to bounce back following 19-12 defeat to Loughborough Lightning last weekend and have made four changes with that in mind.
Notably, USA international Erica Jarrell-Searcy, who won eToro Try of the Week on the opening weekend, returns to their matchday squad at No.8.
Sale Sharks: 15 Lizzie Duffy, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Beatrice Rigoni, 12 Katana Howard, 11 Holly Thorpe, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Sophie Benavent, 4 Iona Antwis, 5 Morwenna Talling, 6 Charlotte Fray, 7 Katie Childs, 8 Erica Jarrell-Searcy
Replacements: 16 Scarlett Fielding, 17 Tysh Harper, 18 Nick James, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Sharifa Kasolo, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Georgia Perris-Redding, 23 Evie Wills
Trailfinders Women: 15 Julia Schell, 14 Grace White, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Carys Cox, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Claire Gallagher, 9 Ella Amory; 1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Maya Montiel, 4 Grace Moore, 5 Alana Borland, 6 Rachel Malcolm, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Abi Burton
Replacements: 16 Niamh Swailes, 17 Cana Williams, 18 Miça Evans, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Haidee Head, 21 Brooke Bradley, 22 Rosie Inman, 23 Niamh Gallagher
Match Officials
Referee: Charlie Gayther
Assistant referees: Kieron Henry and Simon Park
Oval Insights
Sale Sharks
- Sale Sharks Women lead the league with 37 visits to the 22 (rank 1) and 40 total team possessions in the opposition half (rank 1) this season.
- Amy Cokayne leads the league in lineout throws won with 22 (rank 1) and total turnovers won with 4 (rank 1) this season.
- Sharifa Kasolo led the round with 2 tackle turnover wins (rank 1) and has contributed 2 total turnovers won (rank 5) this season.
- Sale Sharks Women dominated territory in the latest round with 20 team possessions in the opposition half (rank 1) and secured 6 tackle turnover wins (rank 1).
Trailfinders Women
- Trailfinders Women recorded 13 dominant tackle contacts (rank 1) and 186 total successful tackles (rank 1) in the latest round.
- Trailfinders Women led the round with 7 box kicks (rank 1) and 64 defensive ruck entries (rank 1).
- No player-level statistics were available in the provided data for Trailfinders Women.
- Trailfinders Women rank third in tackle success percentage this season at 77.2% (rank 3) and have retained 16.7% of their kicks (rank 3).
Sunday 9 November
Harlequins v Gloucester Hartpury – Twickenham Stoop – 12.30pm
Harlequins could not have found a much tougher fixture to respond to their London Derby defeat to Saracens last weekend.
Quins found themselves out-played at the StoneX Stadium where they suffered 47-10 defeat and now face the undefeated reigning champions.
They will be buoyed by their resolve on the opening day when they took a 52-42 victory over Loughborough Lightning in a thriller, and Ross Chisholm has made three changes in hopes of replicating that form.
Full debuts are in store for Liana Mikaele-Tu’u at No.8 and Coreen Grant on the left wing, while Kayleigh Powell makes her first start of the season.
And while you would think The Circus would be content with the current look of their team after two impressive victories over Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, Dan Murphy has made six changes to his side with Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford rotated to the bench.
Form, however, still factors in with league top scorer Tatyana Heard continuing at inside centre, while last week’s star Emma Sing remains at full-back.
Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Coreen Grant, 13 Claudia Pena, 12 Sarah Parry, 11 Beth Wilcock, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Fi McIntosh, 5 Jade Konkel, 6 Nicole Wythe, 7 Sara Svoboda, 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Hannah Sims, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Tyla Shirley, 20 Manuqalo Komaitai, 21 Lucy Burgess, 22 Ella Cromack, 23 Lagi Tuima
Gloucester Hartpury: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Rachel Lund, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Pip Hendy, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 El Perry, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sam Monaghan, 5 Sarah Beckett, 6 Kate Williams, 7 Bethan Lewis, 8 Alex Matthews
Replacements: 16 Kelsey Jones, 17 Erin Bradley, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Zoe Stratford, 20 Georgia Brock, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Lizzie Goulden, 23 Mia Venner
Match Officials
Referee: Henry Pearson
Assistant referees: James Clarke and Gareth Holsgrove
Oval Insights
Harlequins
- Harlequins Women lead the league with 333 total successful tackles (rank 1) this season and 96 total team possessions (rank 1).
- Sara Svoboda recorded the most dominant tackle contacts in the round with 2 (rank 1), adding to her 32 total successful tackles (rank 3) this season.
- Lucy Packer recorded the highest kick metres per kick in the round with 36.5 (rank 1), complementing her 7 box kicks (rank 2) this season.
- Nicole Wythe registered an interception in the latest round (rank 1) and has made 30 successful tackles (rank 4) this season.
Gloucester-Hartpury
- Gloucester-Hartpury Women have accumulated a league-leading 87 points (rank 1) and 13 tries scored (rank 1) this season.
- Lleucu George leads the league in kick metres with 795 (rank 1) and kick metres per kick at 33.1 (rank 1) this season.
- Tatyana Heard has scored the most tries this season with 4 (rank 1) and added 5 dominant carries (rank 4) in the latest round.
- Natasha Hunt leads the league with 3 try assists (rank 1) and recorded the most box kicks in the round with 9 (rank 1).
Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs – cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens – 2.30pm
Loughborough Lightning can continue their strong home form with back-to-back matches at cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens.
They defeated Sale Sharks 19-12 last weekend after an agonising loss away at Harlequins on the opening day.
And they are only bolstered against Exeter Chiefs as Nathan Smith’s three changes bring extra firepower.
Red Rose Lilli Ives Campion is fit to start at lock while USA international Kathryn Treder earns a first start of the season at hooker and Alice Maude comes in at scrum-half.
The match-up pitches two sides with similar form, Chiefs won their opening weekend fixture against Trailfinders but a strong second half could not earn them victory against Gloucester Hartpury last time out.
They also benefit from reinforcement as Italy international Francesca Granzotto comes in for her debut on the wing.
Though the Devon outfit also have to contend with injuries that see props Hope Rogers and Amy Rule out of action.
Loughborough Lightning: 15 Lia Green, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 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 Haineala Lutui, 6 Tahlia Brody, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones
Replacements: 16 Lucy Calladine, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Rachel Ehrecke, 21 Kendall Waudby, 22 Megan Davey, 23 Fancy Bermudez
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Merryn Elworthy, 14 Francesca Granzotto, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson; 1 Demi Swann, 2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Linde van der Velden, 5 Abby Duguid, 6 Emily Robinson, 7 Maisy Allen, 8 Maddie Feaunati
Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 Alessia Skeates, 18 Abby Middlebrooke, 19 Gabriella Nigrelli, 20 Lola Whitley, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Naomi Brennan, 23 Katie Buchanan
Match Officials
Referee: Holly Wood
Assistant referees: Matt Sharpe and Darryl Chapman
Oval Insights
Loughborough Lightning
- Loughborough Lightning lead the league with 325 carries (rank 1) and 1,239 carry metres made (rank 1) this season.
- Haineala Lutui leads the league with 42 carries (rank 1) this season and recorded 8 dominant contacts (rank 1) in the latest round.
- Sadia Kabeya leads the league with 13 defenders beaten (rank 1) and has accumulated 164 metres made (rank 6) this season.
- Helen Nelson ranks second in kick metres this season with 626 (rank 2) and leads with 4 retained kicks (rank 1).
Exeter Chiefs
- Exeter Chiefs Women recorded 217 attacking ruck entries (rank 1) and 243 total ruck entries (rank 2) in the latest round.
- Emily Robinson led all players with 28 attacking ruck entries (rank 1) in the round, while accumulating 69 total ruck entries (rank 1) for the season.
- Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is the league's most efficient carrier with 8.9 metres per carry (rank 1) this season, contributing to her 195 total metres made (rank 4).
- DaLeaka Menin has scored 2 tries this season (rank 4) and ranks second in post-contact metres per carry with 6.5.
Bristol Bears v Saracens – Shaftesbury Park – 2.30pm
World Cup winners Sarah Bern and Abbie Ward return to the Bristol Bears starting line-up for their first home match of the season.
Christiana Balogun also enters the pack at blindside flank while Jenny Hesketh comes in at full-back.
Bears have played just one fixture so far but enjoyed a resounding 74-0 win over Leicester Tigers away from home in their first clash.
They meet a Saracens side buoyed by a London Derby victory over Harlequins, though they have proved they are not infallible with opening weekend defeat to Gloucester Hartpury.
It is unsurprising that Alex Austerberry has opted for consistency from the derby day clash at the StoneX Stadium with Rosie Galligan entering as lock.
Bristol Bears: 15 Jenny Hesketh, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Ella Lovibond, 11 Millie David, 10 Lucie Skuse, 9 Keira Bevan; 1 Simi Pam, 2 Holly Phillips, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Christiana Balogun, 7 Jenny Herring, 8 Evie Gallagher
Replacements: 16 Amy Dale, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Aisha Jah, 19 Natalia John, 20 Bryonie King, 21 Rhea Clarke, 22 Savannah Picton-Powell, 23 Jasmine Joyce
Saracens: 15 Jemma-Jo Linkins, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Beth Blacklock, 11 Alysha Corrigan, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Olivia Apps; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 May Campbell, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Julia Omokhuale, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Poppy Cleall
Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 Akina Gondwe, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Louise McMillan, 20 Georgia Evans, 21 Sarah McKenna, 22 Amelia MacDougall, 23 Lotte Sharp
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Hudson
Assistant referees: Jamie Leahy and Kevin Williams
Oval Insights
Bristol Bears
- Bristol Bears Women lead the league with 12 turnovers won (rank 1) in the latest round.
- Evie Gallagher recorded the most offloads in the round with 6 (rank 1), while also contributing 45 post-contact metres (rank 3) this season.
- Millie David leads the league in carry distance with 315 meters (rank 1) and metres made with 274 (rank 1) this season.
- Bristol Bears Women dominated in the maul, scoring 3 tries (rank 1) and winning 11 mauls (rank 1) in the latest round.
Saracens
- Saracens Women lead the league in offloads with 43 (rank 1) and tackle success percentage at 83.1% (rank 1) this season.
- Poppy Cleall ranks third in the league for carries with 30 (rank 3) and leads all players with 7 offloads (rank 1) this season.
- Alysha Corrigan recorded 6 initial breaks in the latest round (rank 1) and has accumulated 159 metres made (rank 7) this season.
- May Campbell ranks first in lineout steals with 2 (rank 1) and third in lineout throws won with 15 (rank 3) this season.
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