Round 9 review: Quins snatch late win as Gloucester Hartpury's streak continues

Leading 19-0 at half time, Exeter continued to tighten their grip on the game as Maddie Feaunati broke from the back of a scrum to secure her team’s bonus point.

McGoverne, who had earlier successfully returned from a HIA, capped her excellent performance with a try courtesy of good work from Feaunati, Maisy Allen, Dorothy Wall and Kate Smith in the build-up.

The near 2000-strong crowd were treated to one final try late on as Wall muscled over to round off the scoring.

Bristol Bears 30-29 Sale Sharks

Keira Bevan's last-minute penalty sealed a dramatic 30-29 win for Bristol Bears over Sale Sharks.

The Welsh scrum half held her nerve to slot a penalty from 30 metres and give Bears their first win in six matches.

Sharks got the ball rolling early with tries from Sharifa Kasolo and Rhona Lloyd before Amy Dale and Reneeqa Bonner replied.

A double from Shona Campbell meant that Bristol were behind 22-10 at the break, but the second half saw a quick turn in pace for the home side as Ella Lovibond and Bevan both crossed the whitewash in a frantic 15-minute period to tie the scores.

Traded tries from Ruahei Demant and Amy Cokayne put Sharks back ahead by two points, as Erica Jarrell's conversion found the mark that Bevan's could not

But the scrum half came up clutch in the end, kicking the decisive penalty with the clock in the red to seal a much-needed win.

Gloucester Hartpury 45-26 Loughborough Lightning

Nel Metcalfe was the hat-trick hero as Gloucester Hartpury maintained their flawless record with a 45-26 defeat of Loughborough Lightning.

Metcalfe needed just five minutes to cross the whitewash but Rachel Ehrecke responded swiftly for Lightning.

However, Metcalfe had her hat-trick wrapped up inside half an hour with two quick tries to send the Circus into the break 17-7 to the good.

Kelsey Jones and Georgia Brock both crossed after half time as the reigning champions extended their lead, before Kathryn Treder reduced the deficit.

Zoe Stratford and Alev Kelter then traded tries before Pip Hendy looked to have put the gloss on the home side’s win with a seventh try.

But there was still time for Lightning to clinch a bonus point, as Chrisstine Belisle went over at the death for their fourth try of the afternoon.

Victory returns Gloucester Hartpury to the top of the table with eight wins from eight, while Lightning sit sixth.