CHIEFS GO TOP AS QUINS, GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY AND TRAILFINDERS WIN - PWR ROUND 5 REVIEW

Harlequins took maximum points at Bristol Bears in a thrilling start to Round 5 of Premiership Women’s Rugby before Exeter Chiefs soared to the top of the table.

Then on Sunday, Trailfinders Women put in an impressive showing to beat Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Hartpury got back to winning ways against Sale Sharks.

BRISTOL BEARS 19-34 HARLEQUINS - SHAFTESBURY PARK

Harlequins made it three wins on the spin with an impressive 34-19 triumph at Bristol Bears.

A topsy-turvy first half saw Bears strike just two minutes into the contest courtesy of Millie David.

Quins levelled the scores on 13 minutes when Connie Powell powered over from the back of a driving lineout and the away side then edged in front a few short moments later through Lauren Torley.

Quins were enjoying the run of things and threatened to take full control of the game when Ellie Kildunne stepped and wrestled her way to the line at the midway point of the half.

A moment of magic from Reneeqa Bonner pulled Bears back to within striking distance but Quins responded again via a Lagi Tuima penalty.

Row Marston-Mulhearn scored Bears’ third try of the half to leave her side just a point back and that was how it stayed until 15 minutes from time when Danelle Lochner’s try and Tuima’s conversion put daylight between the sides.

Quins pushed hard to make the game safe and got their reward shortly after having been held up over the Bears line when Alex Callender dived over in the corner.

Bristol Bears

Tries – David, Bonner, Marston-Mulhearn

Harlequins

Tries – Powell, Torley, Kildunne, Lochner, Callender

EXETER CHIEFS 29-12 SARACENS - SANDY PARK

Exeter Chiefs went top of the Premiership Women's Rugby table once more with a  29-12 bonus point victory over Saracens at Sandy Park.

The top two teams clashed with the top spot on the line and the hosts came out on top, with Merryn Doidge opening the scoring in the eighth minute.

Saracens saw their only two scores of the game put them ahead in the early stages, with Sarah McKenna picking up a loose ball in the midfield and racing in from the halfway line before Akina Gondwe burrowed over from close range after a turnover.

But Chiefs bit back through Flo Robinson, who claimed their third, with Alex Tessier making it 17-12 at the break with a penalty kick.

The home side ran away with the lead in the second half. Doidge was once again crucial as she set off downfield and released Eilidh Sinclair down the wing whose well-timed kick allowed her to get the ball down.

And with Hope Rogers running in for their fourth in the 66th minute, Chiefs silenced Saracens and stamped their name on the top of the table.

Exeter Chiefs

Tries - Doidge, F Robinson, Sinclair, Rogers

Saracens

Tries - McKenna, Gondwe

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY 27-14 SALE SHARKS - 4ED HARTPURY STADIUM WITH VODAFONE

Gloucester-Hartpury bounced back from successive defeats as they secured all five points against Sale Sharks.

They started strongly with Beth Stafford breaking the deadlock from first phase after just 11 minutes, but Sharks responded through Sofia Stefan, the Italy skipper fastest to her own kick forward.

The sides went in at 7-7 at the break, although Sale had lost Lucie Sams to the sin-bin right on the stroke of half-time.

When they then lost Alba Capell to go down to 13, the champions took full advantage, Nel Metcalfe with a brilliant finish out wide, with Emma Sing's touchline conversion just wide.

Just as they got back to a full complement, Sale lost Trudy Cowan to the sin-bin, with Neve Jones getting over from a rolling maul to stretch the lead to 17-7.

The forward drive was doing damage, with Jones again on hand for her second try, bringing up the bonus point in the process.

Charlotte Woodman then went in for the home side's fifth, following good build-up by Kate Williams and Carmen Castellucci.

But it was Sale who had the final say, Cowan getting over after some extended pressure close to the line.

Gloucester-Hartpury

Tries - Stafford, Metcalfe, N Jones 2, Woodman

Sale Sharks

Tries - Stefan, Cowan

LEICESTER TIGERS 17-36 TRAILFINDERS WOMEN - MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD

Trailfinders Women earned their second win of the season as they came away with all five points from an entertaining trip to Leicester Tigers.

Emma Taylor scored twice in the second half as they came from behind against Tigers.

Chloe Rollie had given the visitors the perfect start, opening her Trailfinders account after just four minutes with a searing break and finish.

And midway through the first half they had another, Rosie Inman taking advantage of Tigers losing the ball in their 22 to race home.

The home side responded, Fran McGhie with a brilliant individual score as she was fastest to her own chip ahead.

That was the spark Leicester needed, and they hit the front after half-time as Julia Omokhuale broke a couple of tackles as she forced her way over, with Tigers up 12-10.

Rollie then picked off a pass in her own 22 and sprinted clear, putting Julia Schell in to restore Trailfinders' lead.

That proved to be the crucial moment, with Caity Mattinson then extending the visitors' lead a minute later.

Taylor chipped in with two late tries to put some gloss on the scoreline, McGhie getting her second in between.

Leicester Tigers

Tries - McGhie 2, Omokhuale

Trailfinders Women

Tries - Rollie, Inman, Schell, Mattinson, Taylor 2