Premiership: Richmond stay top after second weekend

Image: Worcester's Kat Merchant grabbed a try in her side's win over Lichfield. Pitcture thanks to Rugby Matters. SeeHERE for more.

Richmond remain at the top of the English women's Premiership after their victory over local rivals Wasps at the weekend though Worcester also remain unbeaten after round two. Elsewhere Saracens got back to winning ways as they came out on top in Bristol while Darlington sneaked a victory in a tight match against Old Albanians.

Darlington 22 Old Albanians 19

Old Albanians game agonisingly close to their first Premiership win in this home game but a last minute penalty from England number 10 Katy McLean denied them in the closest of games. The newly promoted Saints felt they had learned a lot from their first Premiership encounter last week and set the pace taking the game to Darlington. This paid off with their forwards punching over the gain line making ground early on and their first score came after just 5 minutes from lock Angela Wadham.

Darlington missing a penalty late on in the half keeping the score at just 5-0 at the break.

The second half kicked off in much the same vein until the Saints lost a prop to the sin bin and Darlington capitalised on the extra player with prop Claire Nicholas crashing over with McLean kicking the extras with ease. The Saints struck back instantly from the restart with an excellent line cut through the defence by centre Simoen Shepherd who touched down under the sticks. Sarah McKenna's boot adding the extras.

The Saints then lost another player to the bin and the pressure on their defence eventually told when full back Ashleigh Wright was over the line for a try shortly followed by centre Jennifer Edwards giving Darlington a 12-19 lead. The Saints were down but not out and strong running from forwards Leah Carey, Lol Kenny and Nadia Brannon had the Saints camped in their opponents 22 and a blindside attack from Karina Page saw Claire McKenna sprinting in to score out on the touch line.

Her sister Sarah slotted the touchline convertion and it looked as if the match would end in a tie with just minutes to go. Darlington won a penalty though with the last play of the game and Katy McLean does not miss from the 22 with her side snatching the win at the death.

Scorers Darlington:Ashleigh Wright (try), Jennifer Edwards (try), Claire Nicolas (try), Katie McLean (2 con, 1 pen)Scorers Old Albanians:Angela Wadham (try), Simone Shepherd (try), Claire McKenna (try), Sarah McKenna (2 cons)

Lichfield 9 Worcester 12

There is never much to separate these two local rivals and with both having won their opening games last weekend there was plenty of incentive in this outing.

Defence was the name of the game in the first half with both sides putting on excellent strong rearguard displays and with the majority of play taking place in the first half between the two 22 metre lines. After half an hour however, Worcester conceded a penalty under the posts which allowed Natasha Hunt to put 3 points on the board for Lichfield. Although there were some good breaks from both teams, neither could capitalise and the score remained 3-0 at half time.

During the second half both teams came out clearly determined to get points on the board and it was Worcester who struck with an excellent midfield break which helped to set up Pippa Crews to score. The converstion from Ceri Large helped Worcester to a 7-3 lead.

Lichfield had plenty of chances close to Worcesters line, a determined defence from the visitors was enough to hold up a couple of drives towards their line. Their hard work in the tight was rewarded when there was space for Merchant again out wide to race down the touchline to get her second try of the day.

Lichfield kept fighting and at 75 minutes managed to get yet another penalty in kicking distance. A good strike from Vicki Jackson got Lichfield the 3 points, bringing the final score to 12- 6 Worcester.

Scorers Lichfield:Vicki Jackson (1 pen), Natasha Hunt (1 pen)Scorers Worcester:Kat Merchant (try), Pippa Crews (try), Ceri Large (1 con)

Bristol 29 Saracens 33

This free-scoring game was packed with tries and excitement as Saracens put the disappointment of losing to Richmond last week behind them. Saracens were without some of their key players such as Maggie Alphonsie and Charlotte Barras but Bristol will feel they gave a little too much respect to the visitors in the early stages of the game as they were 12 points ten within 12 minutes.

The subsequent 68 minutes was far more of an even contest with ten tries scored throughout the game in all. Saracens got out of the blocks extremely quickly with early tries coming from their pair of Canadaian centres Mandy Marchak and Sarah Ulmer. April Brown made it 12-0 before Bristol woke up and hit back with some fine scores of thier own.

Marlie Packer and Emily Ryall brought the home team right back into it with a try apiece - both fine displays of open running and support. The scores continued to pile on for their opponents though as first Leah Morley grabbed a try for Saracens and Brown added the convert and a penalty to push the lead out.

Claire Molloy hit back with superb score for Bristol with the Irish flanker picking up a pass in midfield and beating four defenders on her way to the try-line. Kim Oliver converted. Saracens took a 17-22 lead into the break.

An Ulmer try after the break reasserted Saracens' dominance but the introduction of Bristol replacements Izzy Noel-Smith and debutant Sally Tuson paid dividends as firstly Tuson scored from the ball being moved quickly to her after some clever work in midfield and then Noel Smith sprinted in from 22 meteres.

Saracens sealed it with another try before the death from Cheryl Thompson.

Bristol will be pleased with their display of handling and good penetration later in the game while Saracens will be delighted to be back on track after defeat on the opening day.

Bristol scorers:Marlie Packer (try) Emily Ryall (try), Claire Molloy (try), Sally Tuson (try), Izzy Noel-Smith (try), Kim Oliver (con), Sarah Graham (con)Saracens scorers:Mandy Marchak (try), Sarah Ulmer (2 tries), Leah Morley (try), Cheryl Thompson (try), April Brown (3 cons, 1 pen)

Wasps 9 Richmond 24

Richmond maintained their early lead at the top of the English Premiership with a tense victory over their west London rivals Wasps at the weekend.

Wasps made the better start in the match with Shelley Rae slotting two penalties in the first 20 minutes giving the home team a short-lived 6-0 lead. Richmond quickly replied with turnover ball helping them to move the ball wide quickly with winger Kay Wilson touching down in the corner. Wasps were pressing but they switched off late in the half and Rchmond capitalised with a 39th minute try from Wilson again, whose finishing was impressing as her side took the lead into the break.

On the ascent after the break, Richmond pushed forward with an early try scored through with substitute scrumhalf Fiona Davidson scoring near the posts helping to seal the victory. Abi Chamberlain scored again later in the game to make sure. Wasps enjoyed plenty of possession, however they failed to convert pressure into points apart from another Rae penalty and they'll be disappointed not to have taken points from their opening two games.

Wasps scorers:Shelley Rae (3 pens)Richmond scorers:Kay Wilson (2 tries), Fiona Davidson (1 try), Jackie Shiels (1 con), Abi Chamberlain (try, con)