Match report: Sale Sharks Women 19 - 29 Exeter Chiefs Women

Caroline Moore at the CorpAcq Stadium

Exeter Chiefs Women scored five tries to Sale Sharks’ three to take five points on the road and another win in the PWR.

It was never going to be a rugby spectacle with the snow from earlier in the week clearing to leave wet and heavy conditions... those shirts were never going to stay white for very long! However, a win is a win, and Chiefs remain unbeaten for the 2024/25 season.

Chiefs scored four of their tries in the first half to put them ahead at the break. However, Sale Sharks Women were motivated by a home crowd and were ready for a mud fight, proven by prop Detysha Harper who claimed the first try of the afternoon. Despite Chiefs’ scrum holding strong at the first time of asking and centre Gabby Cantorna making some rapid yards, Sale got the ball back through an interception to get themselves into Chiefs’ 22 and creating a scoring opportunity.

Chiefs wasted no time in coming back with a reply. Their first visit to Sale's 22 saw a lineout throw from hooker Clara Nielson to lock Poppy Leitch result in the drive that saw Mikiela Nelson over.

A lineout in the same position seven minutes later created the same move with flanker Ebony Jefferies the try-scorer this time.

The dominant Chiefs scrum continued its reign at the CorpAcq giving the backs a platform to get the ball moving. For try number three, Emily Robinson made some hard yards following a scrum before sister Flo, McGoverne and Doro Wall floated through the mud to send Sabrina Poulin over.

Sale got themselves back into the game in the last 10 minutes of the half after Chiefs were pinged for holding on following a turnover. Sharks’ fly-half Lizzie Duffy was quick to see the gap to speed over for her side’s second try. She converted this one too to make the score 14-17 to be visitors.

A lineout also led to Chiefs fourth, bonus-point, try. Referee Hamish Grant signalled for a penalty try as Sale were penalised for pulling down the maul. Harper was also shown a yellow card for her troubles.

Half-time: 14-24

The second half was a pre disjointed affair as Sale battled to close the gap against the visitors. Sale spent time in the same lineout area as Chiefs did to get the first of their two tries but came away empty handed.

A Chiefs lineout was the platform that set up their fifth try after Jefferies bursts through the defence and the backs rallied to send injury returnee Katie Buchanan down the wing.

It looked like Poulin may have got a second on the other wing as she kicked the ball into Chiefs territory and opted to kick again rather attempt a foot race on a boggy pitch. However, Sale’s Sofia Stefan got to the kick first but Poulin was able to force a penalty as the scrum-half clung to the ball.

Sale had to endure another yellow card when Catie Benson was pulled up for pulling down the scrum. However, Chiefs lost the player advantage when Flo Robinson went to the bin for a deliberate knock-on.

Winger Holly Thorpe then evaded a multitude of defenders to make her way into Chiefs' 22 to prove Sale were not done. It was fitting she got the home side’s try in the dying minutes.

It looked like Chiefs may have had the last score of the day, again from a lineout, but the referee deemed Jefferies had been held up.

Five tries were enough though, especially in such wet and slow conditions, and Chiefs now get a bye week ahead of their visit to Ashton Gate on Saturday, December 7.

Full-time: 19-29

Sale Sharks Women: N Prothero; E Wood (S Hopkins 51), B Rigoni, L Perrin (R Phillips 67), H Thorpe; L Duffy (vc) (R Wilkins 61), S Stefan; C Benson (J Hazell 71), S Fielding (A Schonert 73), D Harper (c) (N James 66), T Cowan, E Jarrell (I Antwis 56), N Swailes, A Capell (N James 50-51, A Hyndman 60), J Hazell (S Jones 61)

Tries: Harper, Duffy, Thorpe

Cons: Duffy (2)

Yellow cards: Harper, Benson

Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; S Poulin (L Nye 71);, N McGillivray (K Kobayashi 71), G Cantorna, K Buchanan (E Sinclair 63); McGoverne (T Perry 63), F Robinson; M Nelson (D Swann 61), C Nielson (C Moloney 61), C Jacoby (F Long 69), P Leith (c), D Wall, E Jefferies, E Robinson, N Orchard (K Smith 61)

Tries: Nelson, Jefferies, Poulin, Penalty, Buchanan

Cons: McGoverne (2)

Yellow card: F Robinson

Referee: H Grant