Chiefs 37 Saracens Women 19
Exeter Chiefs 37
Saracens Women 19
James Fowler at Sandy Park
The Exeter Chiefs Women produced a blistering onslaught in the opening half hour of this eagerly anticipated contest at Sandy Park, which Saracens were simply unable to live with.
First half tries from Liv McGoverne, Flo Robinson, Maisy Allen, Kate Zackary and Hope Rogers laid the foundations for a dominant victory in front of a hugely passionate home crowd of just over 2,000.
Allen crossed for her second try in the second half, and that along with a penalty from Gabby Cantorna were the only scores added for the Chiefs in the second stanza, however by that stage the damage had very much be done.
Saracens did eventually show their champion credentials and they were rewarded with tries from Jodie Rettie and two from their co-captain Lotte Clapp.
There was no downplaying of the significance of this fixture by Chiefs Head Coach Susie Appleby in the build-up, in what was a repeat of last season’s Premier 15s Grand Final. The Chiefs showed just how up for this encounter they were right from the first whistle, with strong ball carrying from the forwards causing huge issues for the Saracens defence.
It wasn’t long before the Chiefs were rewarded with their first try of the afternoon, as after strong runs from Allen and Rachel Johnson, the ball found its way to Zackary who was playing back in the centre and she produced an audacious offload to eventual player of the match McGoverne, who scampered into the right hand corner unopposed.
The second score of the afternoon came just a few minutes later, and this time it came from a Saracens error. After Saracens dropped the ball on the Chiefs 10-metre line, Ebony Jefferies pounced on the ball and fed it to Robinson, who quickly transferred it to Australian international Lori Cramer on the right wing, and Cramer produced a perfectly weighted kick which Robinson tracking on her inside, was able to chase and control brilliantly with her feet, before diving down on the ball in the right hand corner.
There was to be no let up for Saracens, as Allen was soon racing in on the left wing after an initial strong carry from Cantorna and slick hands from Poppy Leitch and Merryn Doidge set the young England Under-20s star free, and she had enough power to get over the line for the Chiefs third.
The bonus point was wrapped up just a couple of minutes later, as Johnson produced yet another thunderous carry before offloading to her fellow American international Zackary, who just about had enough pace to speed clear of the covering Saracens defenders.
The Chiefs fifth came from the tried and tested close range driving maul, as after concerted pressure inside the Saracens 22, the penalty was put into the corner by McGoverne, and it was yet another American international, Rogers, who came up with the ball to send the whole of Sandy Park into a state of delirium.
Saracens were not about to roll over and give up however, and they were rewarded with their first try of the afternoon just before half time, as a beautiful chip over the top from England fly-half Hollie Aitchison sat up perfectly for Clapp, who dotted down just to the right of the posts.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN 29 SARACENS WOMEN 7
It was to be a completely different contest in the second half, with a seemingly rejuvenated Saracens showing a huge amount more in attack and defence, which made life a lot harder for the Chiefs, who had enjoyed such dominance in the opening 30 minutes.
It was however the Chiefs who crossed first in the second half, with Allen grabbing her second of the game, as she went over from close range after concerted pressure on the Saracens line.
The Chiefs received a touch of their own medicine in the 66th minute, as replacement hooker Rettie went over from a well worked 5-metre catch and drive line-out, which was a much deserved reward for the visitors who had been the better side for much of the second half.
The replacement front row, along with returning Dutch international Linde Van Der Velden seemed to provide much needed impetus back to the Chiefs, and they again started to mount raid after raid inside the Saracens 22. With the bonus point in the bag however, Cantorna decided to knock over the simple penalty from in front of the posts to give the Chiefs an unassailable 37-12 lead with just over 10 minutes to go.
It was to be the visitors who would have the final say however, as a beautiful cross field kick from fly-half Aitchison landed perfectly in the hands of Clapp, who was able to stroll in for a try with the final play of the game.
There could however be no question that with the stunning opening half hour blitz, the day very much belonged to the Exeter Chiefs, who with their sixth victory in a row remain in second place in the Allianz Premier 15s table, just four points behind leaders Gloucester-Hartpury.
Chiefs: M Doidge; L Cramer, K Zackary (N McGillivray 74), G Cantorna, C MacDonald; L McGoverne (R Wilkins 56), F Robinson (B Bradley 74); H Rogers (S Turani 74), C Moloney (E Tuttosi 49), D Menin (C Jacoby 64); N Fryday (L Van Der Velden 59), P Leitch (capt); E Jefferies, M Allen (E McMahon 70), R Johnson
Tries - McGoverne, Robinson, Allen (2), Zackary, Rogers; Conversions - McGoverne (2); Penalty - Cantorna
Saracens: S McKenna (C Grant 64); J Breach (L Clapp 78), S Gregson, H Casey, L Clapp (cc, I Alejandro 75); H Aitchison, L Infante (E Wyrwas 62); K Clifford (M Carson 55), M Campbell (J Rettie 66), A Ellis (M Gooding 74); F McIntosh (G Evans 59), L McMillan; G Moore (C Jacobs 75), M Packer (cc) P Cleall.
Tries - Rettie, Clapp (2); Conversions - Aitchison (2)
Yellow Card: Cleall
Referee: D Jones
Attendance: 2,187
