Caroline Moore at cinch Stadium Franklin’s Gardens
Exeter Chiefs Girls took 4 factors on the street in opposition to a much-improved Loughborough Lighting to maneuver again as much as third place within the PWR. A final-minute attempt was the distinction between the 2 sides in the long run however Chiefs got here away with the victory regardless of being right down to 14 gamers for the final quarter-hour of the sport.
It was a low-scoring first half on the cinch Stadium Franklin’s Backyard’s with chilly palms and knock-ons halting play and penalties at scrum time that means each side didn’t get into a good rhythm.
The primary knock-on was by Lightning. Chiefs have been eager to get rid of the reminiscences from the earlier weekend so have been delighted to be sturdy within the scrum and get the penalty. Ten minutes later although and Chiefs noticed hooker Cliodhna Moloney depart the sector with an damage so Emily Tuttosi got here on sooner than deliberate to interchange her.
It remained a scoreless first quarter with No 8 Rachel Johnson trying energetic off the again of the scrum. In reality, it was her devasting run from a lineout that launched flanker Dorothy Wall to burst although the road, adopted in by prop DaLeaka Menin, The backs recycled the ball to ship over centre Alex Tessier, who transformed her personal attempt.
Lightning didn’t waste time in scoring their very own as a cross-field kick from Emily Scarratt launched the ever-dangerous Bulou Mataitoga down the wing. The ball got here again inside for centre Alex Kelter to attain.
All sq. with 10 minutes, and an entire lot of stoppage time, to go. Because the clock ticked over to half-hour, Chiefs received a penalty from a Lightning scrum which they bumped into the 22 however gave away a penalty of their very own to lose the benefit. Full-back Lori Cramer saved the following kick in area and prop DaLeaka Menin streaked away with Flo Robinson taking on the mantle however there was, guess what, a knock-on.
A Lightning scrum in their very own 22 noticed Kelter burst by means of, however a knock-on gave Chiefs a scrum in a very good place. Johnson got here off the again and Wall went on the cost earlier than the backs handed out to winger Katie Buchanan who was shoved into contact however managed to get the ball away. It was then knocked on by Lightning for one more scrum.
Regardless of the mounting scrums and penalties, neither workforce have been capable of capitalise and the rating remained 7-7 till half-time.
Half-time: 7-7
An early damage for Maisy Allen noticed Edel ‘Tough’ McMahon make her first look for Chiefs this season. The knock-ons and penalties proceed to mount and after 10 minutes it seemed like Lightning have been starting to show the screw in entrance of their house crowd, particularly when Scarratt stepped in at first receiver.
The England centre made a formidable break that was so shut for the attempt however after a number of phases she despatched the ball cross area to Kelter who handed inside for Krissy Scurfield to attain to make it 12-7.
Chiefs’ fly-half Taylor Perry was then proven a pink card, however regardless of being one lady down, the workforce galvanised to cowl her loss. Scrum=half Flo Robinson made a line break and Wall battered a good few Loughborough gamers out of her method earlier than being awarded a penalty that was kicked to the touch. The lineout was strong and the maul was decided sending alternative prop Mikiela Nelson over to attain.
There was nonetheless not less than 10 minutes to go along with only a two-point result in defend, which was swiftly eradicated when Chiefs gave away a penalty that Scarratt kicked with ease.
As the sport entered a really tense damage time interval, Lightning have been 15-14 forward and nerves have been a-jangling. Chiefs have been desperately attempting to maintain maintain of the ball, helped by Lightning making a gift of penalties.
Chiefs had two kicks to the touch however each lineouts went awry. On the third time of asking, Tessier despatched an enormous kick to the touch for a last-ditch lineout. This one went properly and 13 gamers joined the maul. Tuttosi received the ball down and the Chiefs devoted celebrated. Tessier missed the conversion with the final kick of the sport, however 4 factors on the street had already been secured.
Full-time: 15-19
Loughborough Lightning: F Goldthorp; B Mataitoga, E Scarrat, A Kelter, Okay Scurfield; H Rowland (C Morrall 53), L Brebner-Holden (M Davey 53); A Younger, E Martin (Okay Treder 53), L Keates (C Belisle 53), C Holtkamp (A Duguid 66), H Taufoou, R Malcom (cc) (Okay Waudby 80+2), S Kabeya, D Hibbert-Jones (cc)
Tries: Kelter, Scurfield
Con: Rowland
Pen: Scarratt
Exeter Chiefs Girls: L Cramer; C MacDonald (M Doidge 60), N McGillivray, A Tessier, Okay Buchanan; T Perry, F Robinson (vc); H Rogers (M Nelson 54), C Moloney (E Tuttosi 11), D Menin (C Jacoby 54), P Leith (c), Linde van der Velden (N Orchard 65), D Wall, M Allen (E McMahon 42), R Johnson
Tries: Tessier, Nelson, Tuttosi
Cons: Tessier (2)
Pink card: Perry
Referee: C Gayther