Saracens win English title

England star Maggie Alphonsi brought the curtain down on her superb career as she helped her club side Saracens to their first English Premiership title since 2009.

Published by Alison Donnelly, January 18th, 2015

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Saracens win English title

Alphonsi is retiring from the game to focus on athletics and hopes to represent Great Britain in the shot put at next year’s Olympics.

Saracens scored six tries in all - the second dotted down by Alphonsi, to finish off an excellent season where their league record saw them win 12 of their 14 games and finish two points ahead of chasers Richmond, who beat them last week. Other scores on the day yesterday included influential back row Sonia Green as Saracens made the most of the surface at Allianz Park to play quick tempo rugby against a Wasps side hoping to end the season on a high having had to settle for a sixth place league finish.

Down atBristol, Richmond's win was in vain though it was a highly competitive match to see the west Londoners finish second.Richmond Number 8, Rebecca Essex scored two minutes in but Bristol’s Izzy Noel Smith levelled the score 10 minutes later, with Amber Reed securing the conversion to take the score to 7-7. Richmond added another before half time as the teams went in at 7 – 12 at the break.

Richmond came storming out of the blocks after half time, scoring quickly after kick off, only for Bristol’s Katie Mason to touch down 5 minutes later keeping Bristol in touching distance at 12 – 17.

Noel Smith was sent to the sin bin on 70 minutes, and Richmond took the opportunity to stretch ahead with another try, leaving the score at 12 – 22. Hardy finally broke through to score again for the hosts, leaving Amber Reed to slot the conversion with the last play of the game for a 19-22 win for the visitors.

Away from home.Worcestersecured a third place finish iwith a 7 try flourish overLichfield.Worcester signalled theirintent to attack from the kick off, the forwards building a platform for Ceri Large and Steph Johnston to link well, Johnson finishing the excellent move with a try in the corner after just 3 minutes.Sarah Nicolas reduced the deficit with a penalty on 9 minutes for the hosts butWorcester bounced back and more fluent rugby resulted in Kelly Smith increasing the lead.

The game was being played at a tremendous pace, both sides showing determination and passion, but a back row mistake at a 5m scrummage gifted Mo Hunt a try on 29 minutes which Sarah Nicolas converted to make the game all square.

The teams were taking it in turns to score and Worcester maintained the pattern, restoring their lead with a further Smith try to close a breath taking half at 10 -15. Cert Large scored again for the visitors  butLichfield refused to capitulate and fought back with a barnstorming forwards try from Amy Cokayne and with Sarah Nicholas taking the extras, the game still appeared evenly balanced from a score perspective at 17 -22 after 52 minutes.

The visitors then finally took control of the game scoring three tries in the  final quarter, Lisa Campbell, the hard working Bianca Blackburn and Laura Keates all crossing the line with Ceri Large adding one conversion to put the game beyond the home sides reach. However, Lichfield did add to their score in final flourish, Nancy Stone crossing the line on 79 minutes.

At the bottom ofthe table Darlington Mowden Park Sharks saw off Aylesford Bulls 27-5. The difficult season endured by the promoted Bulls, added to the struggles of other recenly promoted sides into the Premiership over the past few years, means there is some thinking to be done about ensuring sides who come up to the highest divisions are best equipped to compete. A nationalised Championship was recently mooted by former England captain and Bulls player Catherine Spencer. As it stands, Waterloo and Thurrock will play off in February for the right to earn Premiership status next season.

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