Saracens Women 29 Chiefs Women 22
Saracens Women 29
Exeter Chiefs Women 22
Mark Stevens at the StoneX Stadium
Make no mistake, these two sides will highly likely face one another again this season.
Like at men’s level, there is a fierce rivalry that now exists and although Saracens took the bragging rights in this latest battle, the overall war is far from over for the Exeter Chiefs, who showed their fighting spirit right until the death to secure two valuable losing bonus points.
Maisy Allen’s score with the last play of the game not only ensured the Chiefs headed back to Devon on a positive vibe but, more importantly, kept them on track for home advantage in next month’s semi-finals.
There they could well face Saracens, who themselves underlined their own title credentials with a powerful display that yielded tries from Hannah Botterman, Lottie Clapp, Coreen Grant, Meg Campbell and Sarah McKenna.
The Londoners were certainly worthy winners in a scrappy encounter, but the Chiefs will take heart that even when they were far from at their best, they were able to claim four scores of their own through Kate Zackary, DaLeaka Menin, Katie Buchanan and Allen.
Returning to top-flight duty for the first time since mid-March, it was a familiar feel to Appleby’s match-day mix for this much anticipated clash with the defending champions.
However, the visitors pre-match plans were forced into a last-minute change when Irish lock Nichola Fryday was pulled from the starting line-up after suffering a broken nose in the warm-up. Into the fold came Linde van der Velden, packing down alongside skipper Poppy Leitch.
With conditions perfect in the nation’s capital, it was a hustle-and-bustle start to the contest as both sides tore into one another with a real gusto. Running rugby was at a premium as handling errors and some poor decision-making from both sides meant play was largely restricted to an arm wrestle between the respective packs.
Up front, though, it was the hosts who were gaining the edge, particularly at scrum time where Hope Rogers was being giving a particularly tough afternoon from opposite number Kelsey Clifford.
A succession of penalties ensued before Exeter’s American international was sent to the sidelines by referee Harry Walbaum for persistent infringing. With their numerical advantage, Saracens took less than a minute to make their mark. Using a driving maul to set the foundations, it was England prop Botterman, who peeled off down the blindside, swotting away the attentions of two Chiefs tacklers to score in the corner.
It was no more than the hosts deserved for their efforts, but it was a lead they would extend midway through the half when, following a loose McGoverne kick into the middle of the pitch, Aitchison lapped up the loose ball before timing a perfect offload to Clapp, who was able to round McGoverne and score under the posts for the converted score.
The Chiefs needed a remedy of sorts and it duly arrived when, following big carries from Gabby Senft, Abby Middlebrooke and Rachel Johnson, McGoverne chipped in behind the home defence and there was Zackary to collect the loose ball and power her way over in the left corner.
Inspired by the score, it was just the lift the Chiefs craved as they headed towards the break. Indeed, they were the side with the real momentum at that point. However, they were unable to strike further at that point, instead getting picked off by a clever sucker punch from the home side.
Using another scrum deep inside the Exeter 22 as their platform, Sarries masterfully worked the opening off the base of the set-piece to release full-back Jess Breach, who drew in two defenders before offloading to Grant to cross in the corner.
The first half action, though, was far from finished and with one final hurrah the Chiefs again cut the deficit, Lori Cramer’s dogged work in closing down two Saracens defenders saw the ball eventually find its way into the path of van der Velden, who made decent yards before feeding Menin who, still with plenty to do, turned on the afterburners and scorched her way to the try-line.
HALF TIME: SARACENS WOMEN 17 EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN 12
Having given themselves the ideal lifeline back into the contest, the Chiefs re-emerged for the second period looking to pick up from where they had left off. Saracens, it seemed, had not bought into that notion and the champions began the half at quite a canter.
Just three minutes had elapsed when, following some sustained home pressure, they fashioned the opening for hooker Campbell to find her way over for the bonus point score, converted by the boot of the impressive Aitchison.
Not content with that effort, Saracens came hunting again just minutes later - again to deadly effect - as England international McKenna got herself on the scoresheet, rounding off in the corner after the Chiefs had initially held their rivals at bay from a driving maul.
Adrift 29-12, the Chiefs had it all to do as the game headed into its final quarter. Both sides took the opportunity to run fresh stock from the sidelines and it appeared to work for the Chiefs with young props Abby Middlebrooke and Lizzie Hanlon showing up particularly well against their more experienced counterparts.
Although it appeared the Chiefs were huffing and puffing in attack to little effect, finally they made inroads into the scoreline when, following a burst through the middle from Canadian international Gabby Senft, they were able to recycle the ball at pace across their back and into the hands of Buchanan, who needed no second invitation to find her way over the whitewash.
Not only had the Chiefs hauled themselves back into striking distance but, more importantly, they were now just a score away from securing at least a losing bonus point.
As many have found out at the StoneX this season, away-day wins are virtually non-existent. However, any reward you can get, it’s greatly received in the final shake-up.
Now with the bit between their teeth, the Chiefs were pressing hard in attack. Flo Robinson came within a whisker of getting that fourth score when she broke down the blind-side late on. However, Sarries had just about enough cover to thwart the scrum-half just as she looked set to pounce.
Undeterred, the Chiefs continued to go about their business and in a final stand of defiance, their relentless efforts were rewarded when, with the final action of the game, Allen somehow squirmed her way over for a crucial touchdown.
Saracens: J Breach; C Grant (I Alejandro 78), S Gregson, S McKenna, L Clapp (cc); H Aitchison, L Infante (E Wyrwas 65); H Botterman (M Montiel 68), M Campbell (J Rettie 68), K Clifford (A Ellis 57); L McMillan, C Jacobs (F McIntosh 33); G Evans (G Moore 65), S Kasolo, M Packer (cc). Replacement (not used): F Williams.
Tries - Botterman, Clapp, Grant, Campbell, McKenna; Conversions - Aitchison (2)
Chiefs: L Cramer; E Sinclair, K Zackary, G Cantorna, K Buchanan (A Middlebrooke 21-30); L McGoverne (N McGillivray 65), F Robinson; H Rogers (A Middlebrooke 62), C Moloney, D Menin (L Hanlon 65); L van der Velden (E Tuttosi 48), P Leitch (capt); E Jefferies (G Senft 20), M Allen, R Johnson. Replacements (not used): N Fryday, B Bradley, L Sheehan.
Tries - Zackary, Menin, Buchanan, Allen; Conversion - McGoverne
Referee: H Walbaum