Match report: Harlequins Women 7 - 8 Exeter Chiefs Women

Caroline Moore at Twickenham Stoop

A nail-biting finish with a penalty kick at goal to edge past Quins, saw Chiefs Women take a hard-fought first win on the road in the 2024/25 PWR.

Fly-half Liv McGoverne held her nerve to kick the vital three points to take Chiefs to a one-point lead over the home side as at the final whistle went. Joyful pandemonium ensued from the Chiefs players and fans as they let out a collective relieved breath.

It was a low-scoring game with the first half seeing just one try dividing the two teams. Chiefs’ penalty count did not help them make better progress but neither side looked dominant in the first 40.

The early penalties gave Quins easy territory and possession with referee Nikki O’Donnell stepping into have an early word with captain Poppy Leitch. After the fourth penalty, Quins finally breached Chiefs’ defence with a try for powerhouse flanker Nicole Wythe that was converted by Ella Cromack.

A rare penalty for Chiefs came as the second quarter started and it looked like they would get their chance at the lineout, just 10 metres from the Quins’ try-line, but the ball was knocked on and the opportunity was lost.

A break from Quins full-back Lauren Torley brought the home side deep into Chiefs territory with winger Georgina Tasker the last, and very effective, line of defence. Her tackle count must have been huge for her afternoon’s work. Quins continued to press, somewhat aided by a yellow card for Flo Robinson, but despite being a player up, they struggled to get go-forward and Chiefs defence held strong.

Chiefs had a few opportunities of their own, but failed to convert them, leaving the scoreline at 7-0 as both sides ran back in at half-time.

Half-time: 7-0

The second half continued in much the same vein of form with Chiefs’ defence tested but holding strong. In fact, it held for the entire second half. That is some shift.

An early quick-tap penalty and a cracking run from Flo Robinson delivered Chiefs back into Quins’ 22 only for the ball to be knocked on in the next move.

Quins then had three try attempts. The first was called back for a penalty, the second was held up by Chiefs’ awesome defence, while the third was disallowed for a forward pass.

A yellow card for Quins hooker Maya Meuller gave Chiefs a numbers advantage although McGoverne spent some of that time getting treatment for cramp.

A penalty to Chiefs in Quins’ 22 that gave them the opportunity they had been seeking. Maisy Allen took it quickly and fellow flanker Taz Bricknell bundled over for the try. The countdown clock beat McGoverne to the conversion though as she waited for injured Bricknell to be helped off the field. That left a two-point deficit for Chiefs to make up.

It was Chiefs’ scrum that was the differentiator in the end. As Quins began to tire, Chiefs ramped up the effort, winning two penalties at the scrum. Deep into injury time, McGoverne got a second crack at goal with a penalty and this time the clock did not beat her.

Harlequins Women: L Torley; L Neumann (H Crowell 59), I Mayhew (S Parry 69), L Tuima (c), G Crompton; E Cromack, F Aucken (E Swords 79); J Spurrier (S Cooper 59), M Meuller (N Haynes 75), L Hanlon (H Duffy 75), H Millar-Mills (vc), L Brooks (T Shirley 66), N Wythe (L Heryet 75), I Hannay (N Haynes 69-75), S Svoboda.

Try: Wythe

Con: Cromack

Yellow card: Meuller

Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; E Sinclair, N Brennan (S Poulin 60), S Langford, G Tasker; L McGoverne, F Robinson (vc) (L Nye 78); D Swann (M Nelson 72), C Nielson (M Whitehouse 60), F Long, P Leith (c), N Orchard, E Jefferies (T Bricknell HT, (Z Feaunati 68)), M Allen, E Robinson

Try: Bricknell

Pen: McGoverne

Yellow card: F Robinson

Referee: N O’Donnell