English Women’s Premiership: Chasers close the gap

Saracens went away and came back with a fine win over DMP Sharks, while there were home wins for Lichfield and Bristol.

Worcester have made such a good start this season that despite not playing, they are still five points clear at the top. Should Richmond come out on top in that key game the league will be wide open.

Picture sees Bristol prop Kate Newton scoring one of her two tries. Image thanks to Lloyd Guy

Sharks 12 Saracens 32

This game kicked off with a bang and Saracaens powered through the centre through Candian Mandy Marchack to score after only five minutes.

Having been put on the back foot from the off, Sharks were forced to defend their try line for multiple phases before the away side produced another power play to cross the whitewash again - this time Ellie Gatlin going over.

After 20 minutes played, a mistake from the Sarries fullback gave Mowden some much needed territory and following some excellent running from Sophie Spence and the forwards, Sharks were able to use the width on both sides to stretch the travelling team enough for Jen Edwards to use her pace on the outside and go over for a score on the right.

As the first half progressed, Saracens managed to squeeze over another try following a strong set piece move after a wayward kick for touch, which the visitors took no time in capitalising on with Sonia Green dotting down. The home side, however produced a fantastic response almost immediately with some fine handling in the backs freeing up Ruth Laybourne who proceeded to carve up the outside defence and score under the posts to bring the score to 12-15 with the first half closing. Laybourne came close again just seconds after the restart but was denied by the corner flag and a strong hit. Just on the stroke of halftime, it was Sarries who had the last say as they crept over in the corner through Hannah Gallagher as the whistle blew.

A deadlock in scoring proved these two sides were pretty evenly matched until the later stages of the game and following some punishing lines from the visitors, Saracens eventually battered their way over to score twice. Gallagher got her second try as did Marchack to secure a comfortable win.

Bristol 57 Thurrock 0

Bristol were back to winning ways with a solid team performance against Thurrock on Sunday.

Bristol opened the scoring early on, when a great support line by tight-head prop Kate Newton saw her score under the posts. A few minutes later Bristol were back in the Thurrock half threatening their goal line. Bristol kept the pressure on and turned over their scrum popping it out to fly-half Eli Snowhill who put Sally Tuson in for one of her many tries for the afternoon.

Thurrock kept their heads and made the end of the first half hard work for Bristol, continually testing them at the breakdown and pushing up in defence to test the back line.

The second half saw Thurrock come out hard and force the home side to work incredibly hard in staying composed and working the phases until eventually they crossed the line again.

Further tries were added by Amber Reed and Claire Molloy with Bristol closing out the game 57-0.

Bristol now sit on 15 points in the table and will be hoping that Richmond can do a job for them over Worcester when that game is finally played, as then they'll still be well in contention at the top of the table.

For Thurrock the search for a first league in since promotion goes on, not helped by an injury to key player Rachael Burford, whose experience is vital for them in their first season in the top flight.

Lichfield 15 Wasps 7

Lichfield welcomed Wasps to a cold but sunny Cooke Fields looking to build on their win against Saracens last weekend.

Wasps started stronger putting the Lichfield defence under a lot of pressure with some strong runs from their forwards, but the Lichfield defence held strong and against the run of play they won a kickable penalty just inside the Wasps 10 metre line which Emily Scarratt converted.

Lichfield then had their best passage of the game in attack and through some strong running and link up play by Vicki Jackson and Carys Matthews put the Wasps defence under pressure. Then from a good snipe around the fringes by scrum half Natasha Hunt saw her break through the Wasps defence and she was brought down just before the line. From the resulting ruck Jackson picked the ball up and powered over and Scarratt added the extras.

Scarratt then looked to put the Wasps defence deep into their own half with some clever kicking. The Lichfield pressure finally paid off through some strong running and recycling by the whole team in attack created an overlap out wide which saw Carys Matthews score in the corner for a 15-0 halftime lead.

The second half started like the first half with Wasps looking the stronger side and with the Lichfield defence stretched by some good running from Jo McGilchrist, but once again the Lichfield defence held strong. Finally the Wasps pressure paid off and through some strng forward running link play saw Danika Wilmore power over from close range. Sarah McKenna added the extras.

Though Lichfield lost a player to the bin, Wasps couldnt take advantage and the home side held out for the win.