365 Sporting Days

It was great to see players returning from the WXV, a quality competition organised for the Women’s game across the World.

It was a glorious Autumn Day, with sunshine galore. Saracens had won all 3 of their games and Hartpury 2, this promised to be a good match.

Leanne Infante was making her 100th and final performance, which was emotional. Zoe Harrison kicked off and Hartpury were awarded a penalty in the Saracens half, they took a quick tap and scored through Mackenzie Carson. The kick from Emma Sing was good and Hartpury had a 7 nil lead.

Saracens gave away a 2nd penalty as Hartpury came back at them from the kick off. They won the line out ball before a forward pass.

The first scrum saw another penalty against Saracens. With the kick giving Hartpury a great position. Saracens held the maul up and won the put into the next scrum. That resulted in another penalty for Hartpury. Poppy Cleall was shown yellow as she ignored the shout to release the ball, another penalty got Hartpury. Saracens were awarded a penalty as Hartpury went quickly. They still hadn’t really had the ball and a wayward line out pass saw the visitors back in possession. The ball was knocked on after a low pass was fumbled however.

Saracens cleared the ball from the back of the scrum and Harrison put in a great kick to touch. Saracens attacked after a kick from Hartpury but Neve Jones ripped the ball and Hartpury scored their 2nd through Emma Sing out on the Wing. The kick was a difficult one and missed.

Zoe Aldcroft had a great run from the kick off but was eventually stopped and penalised, she was impressive throughout the game.

Saracens at last had an attack with Harrison going very close, Cleall returned just as Hartpury’s Neve Jones Was shown a yellow card. Harrison kicked for touch and Saracens rolled the maul over, with Bryony Field touching down. Harrison put in a great kick to add the extras.

The kick off went short and Hartpury took the ball but dropped it, Saracens passed across the line and another good kick saw them pressuring Sing deep in the Hartpury half.

A good line out saw Saracens on the attack and moving the ball quickly, a good run from Rosie Galligan, she passed to Gabby Senft who scored between the posts. The conversion took Saracens into the lead.

Saracens had a good attacking spell and another opportunity to roll the maul over the line, McKinley Hunt scored this time. The conversion was good and took Saracens to 21.

Hartpury struck back through Rachel Lund, after moving the ball quickly from a scrum. She scored out on the wing and Sing put in an excellent kick to close the gap to 2.

Some slick passing saw Hartpury take the lead with a good try for Aldcroft, the kick was in front of the posts and sailed through to take them to 26, a lead of 5 in the 38th minute.

The kick off didn’t go 10 giving Hartpury a scrum put on on the halfway line. Nel Metcalfe scored out on the wing as they stormed forwards again. Sing put in another very good kick and the teams went in with the score on Saracens 21 Gloucester Hartpury 33. The half finishing as it started with the visitors in the ascendancy.

Saracens had the first attacking opportunity of the 2nd half, going close through the forwards, they were awarded a penalty then gave away a penalty. Before the teams exchanged a penalty apiece, along with possession.

Saracens had a line out in the Hartpury 22 and after losing the ball on the floor regathered and went through the phases with the forwards before May Campbell touched down to close the gap, she’s enjoying her new role in the Back Row. Harrison’s kick took Saracens to 28.

Hartpury were penalised for offside after a scrum with the kick taking Saracens close to the halfway line. But the ball was soon back in the Saracens half.

Saracens lost their own line out then were penalised in the next. Hartpury were held up over the line. The TMO came in to check a potential grounding. The original decision stood.

Rachel Lund walked through several Saracens players, before Hartpury battered through with their Forwards, the ball was then spread out to Lund, who scored out on the wing. The kick was missed but Hartpury had a 10 point lead.

Saracens struck through Jemma-Jo Linkins out on the wing, after moving the ball quickly at last. The kick was good closing the gap to 3, with 11 minutes remaining.

Galligan showed a great turn of speed after Saracens had turned the ball over on the floor. Playing with speed and determination deep into the Hartpury half, Campbell was on the end of a pass from Galligan and she scooted over for her 2nd to see Saracens retake the lead. The kick was good.

Hartpury were penalised for flying over the top as Saracens were on the floor. They were then penalised in the line out. Giving Saracens a line out in the Hartpury 22. Saracens were accidentally offside in the maul, giving Hartpury a scrum put in.

Saracens disrupted the scrum then went hard in the tackle to see Hartpury knock on. We went back for another scrum after Hartpury ripped the ball forwards.

Ella Wrywas took the ball from the scrum, Poppy Cleall went forward with the ball, putting a lovely pass in to Senft Who scored on the wing, another great kick saw the extras added. The final score was Saracens 49 Gloucester Hartpury 38. A game that went one way then the next, with some breathtaking rugby!