365 Sporting Days

A new season for the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby competition and the league sees 2 new teams enter, being Ealing Trailfinders and Leicester Tigers Women, it’s also seen Worceyster Women removed from the competition. There is also a new TV ‘deal’ for the league with TNT showing games. With that in mind I was shocked to hear about 2 of the Saracens players struggling to afford their boots! I had a conversation with Alison, who’s a part of the Saracens Supporter’s Association and we talked about the possibility of the SSA funding boots in future years. It struck me that each member of the men’s squad could buy the boots of their opposite number in the Women’s set up.

On to the game; Saracens struck early through Sophie de Goede Lightning had lost their own line out in their own half to give Saracens a good attacking platform, the flanker took the ball from Leanne Infante to canter through to score unbothered by any defenders. The kick was an odd one on what must’ve been a slippery pitch.

Saracens Lottie Clapp was shown a yellow card for what must’ve been deemed a high tackle from the motions made by the referee. Lightning messed their line out up from the resulting penalty, but came up with the ball on the floor. They had the put in on the 1st scrum of the game after a Saracens knock on, that resulted in a penalty from the scrum and Lightning took a tap. Saracens gave away a penalty as they attacked. Annoyingly we had the regular, I’m a fan but also think I’m a coach loud voice again, very unfortunate. Lightning kicked to touch this time, again Saracens gave away a penalty. Incurring a 2nd yellow card, a team card, that was Saracens 2nd Winger, Coreen Grant off for 10 minutes.

Lightning captain Rachel Malcolm, scored after they’d made several pushes at the line, with 2 down Saracens couldn’t hold out.. The conversion by Helen Nelson was good, giving Lightning the lead.

Saracens won a penalty after a somewhat amazing rolling maul, the kick didn’t find touch, a schoolgirl error. It was another failed Loughborough line out however that gave Saracens their next attack and try. May Campbell kicked the ball up the pitch after taking it at the line out she regained the ball, Poppy Cleall had a part to play but it was Sophie de Goede who scored, her 2nd, with a couple of defenders on her back this time. The kick went wide.

The next Lightning line out saw a wayward throw in and a scrum put in for Saracens now back to full strength, that was turned into a scrum penalty. Saracens won another penalty and rolled from the line out, Lenne Infanti took the ball and backed herself to run in and score. The successful kick took Saracens to 17.

Saracens lost the ball on the floor deep in Lightning’s half, giving the Lightning winger a great opportunity, she ran well into Saracens half before a perfectly times tackle halted her. They gave away a penalty, and this time Saracens failed to win their line out. The teams went in at half time with the score on Saracens 17 Loughborough 7.

Saracens started the 2nd half with their 3rd yellow card, Poppy Cleall made a tackle and put her hand on the ball to prevent it being released. It felt like a quick card, but the offence was a cynical one.

Saracens won a penalty as Lightning attacked. But again the ball didn’t make touch. Lightning made touch with their next penalty, but again failed to win their line out, Saracens were on the exit with the ball but the referee pulled play back. Saracens cleared from the scrum and Lightning won their line out ball.

Women’s World Player of the year Marlie Packer and Zoé Harrison came on for Saracens, that certainly didn’t weaken them. As Cleall reappeared Saracens we’re awarded a penalty try after rolling over the line. That came with a card for Lightning’s 1 Katie Trevarthen.

Playing with a penalty in their pocket after rolling a maul halfway down the pitch Poppy Cleall picked up a loose ball and headed over the line. Lightning 5 Cath O’Donnell Was shown a yellow card.

A new Hooker came on for Lightning, but they lost her first line out, the throw going long again. That saw Saracens storm up the pitch, that included a sublime pass from Packer in midfield.

Saracens scored from Lightning’s next line out, the visitors were clearly stretched and had little chance against Jess Breach in full flight. Harrison converted with a great kick!

Playing with another penalty available Saracens rolled over the line but were held up. There was no stopping them from the line out and Marlie Packer had ball in hand. Harrison scuffed the kick, unusually.

To add insult to injury for Lightning, the ball was kicked dead after they were awarded a penalty close to the Saracens line.

The end result of that was a try for Saracens after Sydney Gregson flew down the wing. A smashing try! The conversion hit the post. The final score was Saracens 48 Loughborough Lightning 7.

The scoreline didn’t completely reflect the efforts of Loughborough, they showed some good attacking flair and Saracens defence was as good as their attack. The visitors were undone by their failure at their own line outs as well as by the efforts of a very good Saracens team.