Domestic round-up: 28/29 September

Photo: Tyrells Premier 15s

England: Tyrells Premier

Rachel Steinberg, Sportsbeat

Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry was disappointed with his side’s performance despite beating Richmond 46-0 at home in the Tyrrells Premier 15s.

Saracens, who beat Bristol Bears 35-22 on the opening weekend, secured their first victory at home thanks to a double from captain Lotte Clapp and tries from Hannah Botterman, Georgie Lingham and Spanish international Jeani Layola.

A solid defensive effort by Richmond held Sarries to a 21-0 lead at the end of the first half, but the game got away from them in the second, however Austerberry did not hesitate in expressing his disappointment with his side’s attacking play.

“Obviously it’s pleasing to get a win but we’re a little disappointed with elements of our game,” said Austerberry.

“The game of rugby is not difficult. Fundamental skills were done well, and I just think we probably sold ourselves a little short there.”

Mackenzie Carson scored her first points for Saracens, swooping in for an interception near the 22-yard line for a 16th-minute try converted by Lisa Martin to give the home side a 14-0 lead.

Carson, who joined Sarries from Bristol, followed up her first try in the 55th minute after a drive from the scrum allowed her to move the ball over the line – a performance which drew some more positive words out of her coach.

Austerberry added: “She’s a physical presence who consistently does things well and we’re absolutely ecstatic to have her.”

Meanwhile, Shona Powell-Hughes was the key to Gloucester-Hartpury’s 22-19 triumph over Wasps in a gritty back-and-forth thriller up that was up for grabs until the final whistle.

After Abigail Dow put the visiting Wasps ahead 17-19 early in the second-half, Hughes came off the bench and scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.

Both teams continued to apply pressure, but Hughes’ side managed to hang onto their narrow lead thanks to tries from Connie Powell, Bethan Lewis and Kelly Smith, while new signing Ti Tauasosi impressed again at No.8.

Captain Natasha Hunt also made several critical tackles in her season debut for Gloucester-Hartpury who face Harlequins next weekend at the Stoop.

In Worcester, Emily Scott evaded the Warriors’ defence to score in the dying seconds of Harlequins’ decisive 48-7 away victory.

Quins’ depth was on full display with a double from Fiona Fletcher alongside contributions from Lucy Packer, Jess Breach, Chloe Edwards, Amy Cokayne and Giada Franco.

Quins, who top the table after the opening two matches, have outscored their opponents 149-7 so far.

Elsewhere, it was a hat-trick for DMP Sharks winger Igemi Ikoku who took advantage of a handling error to score her third try just before full time in her side's 46-26 home win over Waterloo.

And Bristol Bears never relinquished their lead after Sarah Bern crashed over the line to open the scoring early in their 27-10 victory against Loughborough Lightning.

New Zealand: Farah Palmer Cup

Canterbury – who did not play last week - beat third-placed Counties Manukau 32-17 as they attempt to win their third consecutive title.

The red-and-blacks continued their unbeaten 2019 campaign, overcoming Counties Manukau 32-17 in Pukekohe on Saturday to make it four wins from four this season. Midfielder Lucy Anderson made it four tries in two weeks for Canterbury, scoring another double, with Mayalin Lolohea, Sam Curtis, Alana Bremner, and Grace Brooker also dotting down.

Canterbury were joined at the top of the competition by Auckland, who thrashed Manawatu 50-26 in Palmerston North on Sunday, although Auckland have played one game more.

Fans got more than their money’s worth as the game went six minutes into injury time during which time Janna Vaughan crossed for her second try while Eloise Blackwell was sent to the sin-bin for the final moments of the game.

Wellington moved into third place with Canterbury's help in Week Five of the Mitre 10 Farah Palmer Cup competition on Saturday, beating Waikato 59-31 in the capital.

In the Championship section Hawke's Bay kept their share of the competition lead with a 55-5 romp over Tasman. Otago shaped as Hawke's Bay's closest rival when running away to a 90-0 win over North Harbour who were in third place going into the game.

Rosie Kelly had a great day out, not only scoring two tries but adding 10 conversions to claim 30 points for herself. Kilisitina Moata'ane scored 20 when crossing for four tries.

Northland moved ahead of Tasman on the table with their 22-12 win over Taranaki.

Results

Tasman 5 (Sydnee Wilkins try) Hawke's Bay 55 (Kathleen Brown 2, Shaylee Tipiwai 2, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Lukika Faavae, Cortez Te Pou, Nicolette Adamson, Holly Macdonald tries; Sylvia Bockman 2 con, Krysten Cottrell 3 con). HT: 27-5

Taranaki 12 (Chelsea Fowler, Sharee Brown tries; Fowler con) Northland 22 (TK Ngata-Aerengamate, Stacey Tupe, Kararaina Wira-Kohu, Mia Anderson tries; Krystal Murray con). HT: 0-10

Counties Manukau 17 (Leilani Perese, Emily Kitson, Grace Gago tries; Kitson con) Canterbury 32 (Mayalin Lolohea, Lucy Anderson 2, Sam Curtis, Alana Bremner, Grace Brooker tries; Kendra Cocksedge con). HT: 0-15

Wellington 59 (Joanah Ngan-Woo, Ayesha Leti-Liga, Kolora Lomani 3, Raylene Lolo, Rosie Stirling, Amanda Rasch tries; Rasch 8 con, pen) Waikato 31 (L Mitchell, R Holmes, A Yama, L Ngalu-Lavemei, K Simon tries; Chelsea Alley 2 con; C Ruruku con). HT: 21-19

Otago 90 (Kilisitina Moata'ane 4, Sheree Hume, Trisha Hopcroft, Tegan Hollows 2, Amy du Plessis, Rosie Kelly 2, Teilah Ferguson, Meg Breen, Bree Thomas tries; Kelly 10 con) North Harbour 0.

Manawatu 26 (Selica Winiata 2, Janna Vaughan 2 tries; Winiata 3 con) Auckland 50 (Ruahei Demant 2, Charmaine McMenamin, Crista Tofa, Isla Norman-Bell, Princess Elliot, Natahlia Moors, Daynah Nankivell tries; Patricia Maliepo 5 con). HT: 14-38

France: Elite 1

Into the second year on the Elite 1 league, there remains little sign that the doubling the size of France’s top league has closed the gap between the leading half-dozen teams and the rest. If anything, the gap seems to be growing, with – as in England - players continuing to gravitate to the top clubs, and especially those with professional men’s teams.

In week three of the new season last season’s finalists again recorded big wins.

In Poule 1 Montpellier travelled to Lons and swept them aside 68-5, putting them five points clear at the top of the section due to Bobigny’s game at Rouen being postponed until December. Montpellier are storming through the championship, averaging 64 points per game so far.

Bayonne now sit in second, seeing off newly promoted Chilly Mazarin 41-7, while Stade Francais recovered from their thrashing last week to just get the better of Grenoble, 20-15

Meanwhile Toulouse went even better than the champions, travelling to Bordeaux and thumping their hosts 70-0. Romagnat took the long journey to Caen, coming away 52-0 winners, but stay in third after Blagnac beat Lille 38-7 – Lille’s rebuilding still having some way to go. Caen, meanwhile, have yet to score a point in their three games this season.

Finally, Rennes were push all of the way by Poule 2’s new tea, Lyon, only winning by 15-13. Despite losing, the bonus point won by Lyon is enough to put them above Lille on points difference – making them the only team from outside the 2017-18 Top 8 to be placed above a team from that year’s top division.