Match report: Exeter Chiefs Women 40 - 19 Loughborough Lightning

Caroline Moore at Sandy Park

Six tries for Exeter Chiefs Women were enough to keep them at the top of the PWR table after six out of six wins on the bounce.

Chiefs’ first try was from Irish lock Dorothy Wall, who was heavily involved in the first few phases of the game. A high ball was collected and taken up field by scrum-half Flo Robinson who released full-back Lori Cramer for a few more metres. The backs continued they journey into Lightning territory for Wall to stretch over the line for her first try in a Chiefs jersey.

A penalty awarded to Chiefs saw centre Alex Tessier kick to touch just inside Lightning's 22. Hooker Cli Moloney threw to Wall but Lightning were pinged again by referee Alex Thomas. Another penalty; another lineout...this time on the five-metre line.

This lineout did not go to plan but somehow Chiefs managed to turn this into an advantage. Lightning’s kick downfield was caught by wing Eilidh Sinclair who ran it back. Centre Nancy McGillivray and Maddie Feaunati took the game into Lightning’s 22 to release Sabrina Poulin for Chiefs’ second try in the 10th minute.

Lightning are no slouches though and they were not going to be kept off the scoresheet. A lineout saw the African Violets press towards the try-line with No 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones almost over closely followed by scrum-half Megan Davey. Prop Laura Keates did manage to score though from close range, converted by centre Emily Scarratt.

Despite a yellow card for Flo Robinson for slapping down a Lightning pass, the next try still went to Chiefs. It came off a grubber kick that did not look like it was not going to work...but somehow it did! The move started with a run from Cramer. Flanker Maddie Feaunati charged down the wing and Wall broke the defence. Wall and DaLeaka Menin then combined to take Chiefs deep into the 22 for Tessier to try the deft kick. It really did not look like it was going to be successful but Lightning’s defence could not get it down so the Canadian stepped in for a third try for the home side.

The bonus-point score came from a Lightning lineout on their own five-metre line but Chiefs somehow manged to scrabble the ball back from to release Poulin for an incredible break. Winger Krissy Scurfield was shown a yellow card for her tackle on the Poulin and the resulting penalty and lineout gave prop Hope Rogers the platform for her try.

Half-time: 26-7

The rather topsy-turvy nature of the lineout gave Chiefs the first try of the second half. A fluffed Lightning lineout gave Chiefs the ball and the backs were keen to keep it to themselves! Poulin slipped through the defence to score.

But just as Chiefs began to feel comfortable, a runaway try from Scurfield gave the visitors some extra spring in their step.

The backs kept running back at Lightning though and it looked like Eilidh Sinclair may have been heading towards ‘Sinclair Corner’ again when she neatly chip-kicked the ball ahead but this time it was flanker Ebony Jefferies who took the ball over the line.

The final 20 minutes was a rather messy affair for both sides with replacements brought on to alleviate tired legs and to try different combinations. Lighting had the better success with theirs; a lineout and maul saw replacement hooker Kathryn Treder get their third.

This was the last score of the game with neither side really taking control as the clock began to run down. With six tries safely on the board, Chiefs could be confident of another successive win in this block of six games. A rest week beckons for all PWR sides next weekend with Chiefs back in action against Sale Sharks in two weeks’ time.

Full-time: 40-19

Exeter Chiefs Women: L Cramer; E Sinclair, N McGillivray, A Tessier (T Perry 68), S Poulin; McGoverne (G Cantorna 68), F Robinson (L Nye 76); H Rogers (D Swann 55), C Moloney (C Nielson 73), D Menin (C Jacoby 55), P Leith (c), D Wall, E Jefferies (N Orchard 70), M Feaunati (E Robinson 64), R Johnson

Tries: Wall, Poulin (2), Tessier, Rogers, Jefferies

Cons: Tessier (5)

Yellow card: F Robinson

Loughborough Lightning: F Goldthorp; B Mataitago, E Scarratt, H Nelson (cc); H Rowland, M Davey (L Weaver 76); I Curphey (A Williams 71), E Martin (T Treder 59), L Keates (C Belisle 59), A Duguid, L Ives Campion, H Taufoou, K Waudby, A Hibbert-Jones (cc)

Tries: Keates, Scurfield, Treder

Cons: Scarratt (2)

Yellow card: Scurfield

Referee: A Thomas

Attendance: 1,038