Round 15 Review: Champs leave it late as Chiefs, Trailfinders and Sharks also triumph

Gloucester-Hartpury left it late to continue their unbeaten run at Loughborough Lightning while Trailfinders Women and Sale Sharks picked up valuable wins in the race for the play-offs in Premiership Women’s Rugby.

The Circus overcame Loughborough Lightning 43-38 thanks to Tatyana Heard’s late try on Sunday, before Sale Sharks made it five wins in a row thanks to a 25-7 win over Bristol Bears.

On Friday night, Abi Burton had clinched victory for Trailfinders away at Harlequins, while Exeter Chiefs were too strong for Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Harlequins 17-21 Trailfinders Women

Abi Burton’s late try saw Trailfinders Women move ahead of Harlequins in the table after an entertaining encounter at the Stoop.

The Red Roses flanker crossed with three minutes to go in the West London derby, condemning Quins to their fifth successive defeat.

Tanya Kalounivale had put Trailfinders in front, with Quins responding through Connie Powell but still trailing 7-5 at the break.

Nicole Wythe gave Harlequins the lead for the first time early in the second half, but then saw yellow as Brooke Bradley restored Trailfinders’ advantage.

And after Beth Wilcocks had seemingly snatched the win for Quins, Burton popped up with three minutes to go to snatch the all-important win for Trailfinders.

Leicester Tigers 0-43 Exeter Chiefs

DaLeaka Menin scored two tries as Exeter Chiefs picked up maximum points with a convincing win away to Leicester Tigers.

The prop opened the scoring for Chiefs, with Maddie Feaunati, Flo Robinson and Katie Buchanan all following suit to make it 24-0 after 25 minutes with the bonus point in the bag.

Menin grabbed her second before the break, with Chiefs in complete control at 31-0.

However, it was a much tighter second period, with no points scored until very late, when Hope Rogers and Zoe Dare both got over to seal victory.

Loughborough Lightning 38-43 Gloucester-Hartpury

Tatyana Heard’s last-gasp try kept Gloucester-Hartpury’s perfect record in-tact after a thriller of a match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Loughborough Lightning looked set to become the first team to beat the champions when they led 31-12 early in the second half, but the Circus roared back in a game that went one way then the other.

Mia Venner, who scored a hat-trick on the day, had given the visitors a good start, quickly followed by setting up Lizzie Goulden for the second to make it 12-0.

But Sadia Kabeya started the comeback, quickly followed by Red Roses teammate Lilli Ives Campion as Lightning hit the front.

Bo Westcombe-Evans’ solo score put the home side 21-12 up at the break, and they stretched that advantage when Fancy Bermudez and Carmella Morrall went over in quick succession.

But Gloucester-Hartpury are not unbeaten for nothing and hit back with four tries without reply as Venner crossed twice either side of tries for Hannah Dallavalle and El Perry.

Lightning still were not done though, with Alev Kelter putting them back in front, 38-36 with four minutes to go, only for Heard to have the final say in the corner.

Sale Sharks 25-7 Bristol Bears

Sale Sharks moved into the play-off places with a fifth successive win as they overcame Bristol Bears.

Erica Jarrell-Searcy opened the scoring for the home side from a pick and drive, only for Pam Buisa to respond immediately for Bears.

However, it was Sale who went in at the break ahead, Shona Campbell grabbing their second try, which Lizzie Duffy converted to make it 14-7.

Two more penalties from Duffy stretched the advantage and all but made the game safe, before Katie Childs was able to get over from rolling maul to wrap up the win and put Sale into fourth.