Match report: Exeter Chiefs Women 29 - 12 Saracens Women

Caroline Moore at Sandy Park

The joy was palpable as referee Charlie Gayther blew his whistle. A win against Saracens - the (former) top side in the league – is not to be sniffed at and players, coaches and supporters alike revelled in the importance of that result. It wasn’t always easy, but Chiefs secured that bonus point and kept Saracens to a scoreless second half to come away the victors.

It was a super-close first half at Sandy Park with just a conversion and a penalty splitting the two teams.

As expected, scrums and lineouts were key for his game with so many scores triggered by one of these set-piece moves. A lineout in the eighth minute kick-started Chiefs’ first try, followed by a neat kick from centre Alex Tessier to winger Eilidh Sinclair who passed inside to Merryn Doidge to run the ball over the try-line. Tessier kicked the conversion and Chiefs were 7-0 ahead.

The lead did not last too long though as a loose ball saw centre Sarah McKenna grab an interception try that was converted by Zoe Harrison.

Saracens had the better start to the second quarter and kept Chiefs pinned in their own 22. A scrum from the visitors just inside the halfway line in Chiefs' half released Saracens’ backs before Harrison chipped the ball ahead to hooker Bryony Field to get the forwards involved. A try was inevitable with prop Akina Gondwe the name on the board. No conversion this time.

Life was certainly a little easier when Chiefs had set-piece in their own 22. A huge scrum from Chiefs saw scrum-half Flo Robinson scrabble the ball back to fight her way over the line for the home side’s second try. Tessier converted this one to take a two-point lead before knocking over a penalty just before the half-time whistle to make the score 17-12 at the break.

Half-time: 17-12

The third quarter almost remained scoreless until a yellow card for McKenna gave Chiefs the numbers advantage and a bit of impetus. Having felt a little hard done by a few decisions, the players seemed to take matters into their own hands and upped the physicality in the loose with Flo Robinson and Harrison clashing in front of the West Grandstand side.

Harrison’s kick was caught by Doidge who set off downfield and released Sinclair down the wing. This Scot likes to score against Sarries and her well-timed kick fell perfectly over the line for her to touch down for the third try of the afternoon. Pure class!

Chiefs had their tails up from then on and when Chiefs won another penalty, hooker Cli Moloney was very quick to point to the touchline. A lineout throw to Linde van der Velden set up the drive and bodies piled towards the line. And, you know what happens when Hope Rogers gets hold of the ball…yup, try-time.

Saracens continued to press in the final minutes as Chiefs brought on their replacements to relieve a few tired bodies. Hooker Clara Nielson was among those impact players to earn her 50th Chiefs' cap.

The visitors could do no more and ended up scoreless in the second half for Chiefs to seize a win to take them to the top of the PWR table.

Full-time: 29-12

Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; E Sinclair, N McGillivray, A Tessier (G Cantorna 81), S Poulin (L Cramer 81); L McGoverne, F Robinson (L Nye 81); H Rogers (M Nelson 71), C Moloney (C Nielson 77), D Menin (C Jacoby 71), P Leith (c), L van der Velden (N Orchard 81), D Wall (M Feaunati 61), E Robinson, R Johnson

Tries: Doidge, F Robinson, Sinclair, Rogers

Cons: Tessier (3)

Pen: Tessier

Saracens Women: J-J Linkins; A Corrigan (I Alejandro 77), S Gregson, S McKenna, L Sharp (cc) (B Blacklock 67); Z Harrison, E Wyrwas (T Sellers 77); A Gondwe (M Hunt 55), B Field (G Evans 57), K Clifford (D Rose 55), R Galligan (S Kasolo 67), P Cleall, M Campbell, M Packer (cc) (B Cleall 77), G Senft

Tries: McKenna, Gondwe

Cons: Harrison

Yellow card: McKenna

Referee: C Gayther

Attendance: 1,297