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Round 12 Review: Bears complete comeback as Sharks win in the mud
Sale Sharks held on for a huge win in Round 12 of Premiership Women’s Rugby as Saracens returned to the top of the table.
Sharks scored all their points in the first half before resisting a Harlequins comeback for back-to-back wins.
Saracens were dominant against Exeter Chiefs, while Trailfinders withstood a strong start from Tigers to triumph.
Bristol Bears then came back from 21-5 down in the second half to defeat Loughborough Lightning.
Leicester Tigers 19-40 Trailfinders Women
Trailfinders Women got back to winning ways with a 40-19 win over Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Cassandra Tuffnell scored twice to first put the visitors ahead and then restore their lead after a stunning break from Jemima McCalman and a score from Micke Gunter had put Leicester ahead.
Niamh Gallagher moved Trailfinders further in front with a fabulous solo score to see her side lead 21-12 at half-time.
Emma Wassell crashed over for the bonus point on 56 minutes before Annabel Meta and Brooke Bradley put the gloss on the victory.
Leicester had the final say, doing as Sale did last week, and charging down a kick, with Georgie Lingham scoring.
Sale Sharks 15-12 Harlequins
Sale Sharks survived a battle in the mud to beat Harlequins 15-12 and win two games in a row for the first time this season.
Rhona Lloyd scored her eighth try of the season as the ball was worked out wide to the wing before Amy Cokayne powered over to see Sale move into a big lead.
That was then cut to seven by a moment of individual brilliance from Claudia Pena, who chased down a grubber kick and then chipped before sliding over.
Lizzie Duffy’s penalty on the stroke of half-time proved crucial, as Harlequins scored through Jade Konkel, with Ella Cromack converting, to leave the lead at three points.
Heroic defence in increasingly difficult conditions led Sale to see out the game for a famous win.
Saracens 45-7 Exeter Chiefs
Saracens blew Exeter Chiefs away for a 45-7 win to move ahead of Gloucester Hartpury in the PWR table.
The forwards dominated the first half with Poppy Cleall scoring twice, before Marlie Packer finished off a move from a lineout.
Julia Omokhuale almost scored a try having sprinted from deep, but was denied with a great last-ditch tackle into touch.
Kelsey Clifford twirled her way over the line to keep the scoring going in the second half, with Alysha Corrigan finishing off a stunning team try.
Tori Sellors then flew over after Cleall had chased down her own kick and got her side within inches of the line.
Omokhuale then got a deserved try to round out a ferocious display, with Exeter Chiefs only able to score at the death through Hope Rogers.
Loughborough Lightning 21-24 Bristol Bears
Bristol Bears pulled off a stunning comeback against Loughborough Lightning, triumphing 24-21 away from home.
After cagey opening exchanges, Millie David put the visitors ahead as she dotted down in the corner.
Lightning then responded, first through Rachel Ehrecke and then from birthday girl Sadia Kabeya, who powered over on her return from injury.
Daisy Hibbert-Jones extended Loughborough’s lead to 16 as she chased down Carmela Morrall’s grubber kick.
Then the Bristol comeback began, first Evie Gallagher snuck over the line before David got her second of the match and the ninth of the season, to go joint top in the try-scoring standings.
Emma Orr finished off the job with a great break through the Lightning defence as they moved just three points behind their opponents in the table.
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