Richmond lead the way at the end of 2011

Seeherefor a full league table

Saracens 45 Worcester 10

Saracens bounced back from their disappointing loss to Richmond last week with a spirited 45-10 victory over an inexperienced yet incredibly tenacious Worcester side.

Saracens keen to right the wrongs of last week came out firing, dominating possession and territory with only resolute defence from a very young Worcester side keeping the team in black at bay. Founded on the strength of Saracens pack anchored by the great work of Leslie Cripps and Claire Horgan alongside debut hooker Nat Maclaron who enjoyed a fine match, the backs were able to find space for Louise Meadows to go over for the first try of the afternoon. Fly half April Brown converting wonderfully from the corner.

Continued pressure in the tight and a series of pick and charges, led to the excellent Saracens prop Cripps getting herself on the scoreboard for a full deserved solo effort, Brown just hitting the post with the conversion, 12-0.

Further fine running from new centre partnership Darel Poole and Sarah Alma, created the space for a wonderful support line from flanker Maggie Alphonsi to touchdown under the posts. Brown adding the extras.

Worcester led by Jennifer Brightmore and the experienced Rocky Clarke, never let their heads drop and working hard to continue moving the ball, a great line by the latter, saw her score left of the posts. Ceri Large fell just short with her conversion. Saracens went into the break 19-5 ahead.

The second half continued with the Saracen's forwards continuing their surges with tries from Hannagh Gallagher and then a penalty try, both of which were converted by Brown 33-5. Saracens backs put together a well worked move creating space for full back Charlie Goode to execute a well -timed pass to free winger Ofkar for the sixth converted try, 40-5.

The young Worcester side continued to play, well organised by the excellent half back pairing of Large and Laura Keates. Large offering continued threat in the loose managed to give her outside backs a well worked score for Sam Bree in the corner. 40-10.

Saracens had the final word when substitute Leanne Reilly ran a devastating line in the centres and showed terrific speed to run in from the half way line for a fine individual score finishing the game 45-10.

Worcester were hard done by injuries and unavailabilitys, however very much showed the future looks incredibly bright with their youth system producing some real quality that will stand them in great shape going forward. Saracens go into the Christmas break delighted to finish 2011 with a festive win.

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Richmond 27 Wasps 0

Richmond secured a bonus point win over local rivals Wasps to stay top of the table going into the New Year. Spanishh winger Barbara Pla Vegue touched down in the corner getting the home side off to the perfect start after just a few minutes.

Richmond gained the ball from the resulting restart and it was passed from one touch line to the other. Full back Berta Garcia Alonso came into the line and as Wasps hesitated, expecting the pass to the winger, the Spaniard scored herself. AliceRichardson attempted the conversion from hand, but missed, 10-0.

A period of Wasps pressure followed and resulted in another penalty being awarded for offside but fullback Hannah Edwards pulled the resulting kick wide of the posts.

Richmond worked their way back up the pitch. Some poor decision making in the Wasps 22 looked to have saved the visitors but Richmond regained possession and broke down the left wing with Pla Vegue doing what she does best and scoring a good try.

A short shower seemed to affect both teams attacking ability, with some good backs breaks from both sides proving fruitless until Edwards kicked a clearance straight to Pla Vegue. Despite a good chase from the Wasps backs the winger danced through the would be tacklers and scored under the posts. Still kicking from hand Richardson converted taking them in to the half time interval 22-0.

Wasps started the second half strongly attacking the Richmond 22. The home sides defence was to strong and they resisted the repeated onslaughts. Four times Richmond turned the ball over, but struggled to clear effectively.

Following a short injury break, Richmond finally cleared their lines and began their own assault in the opposition 22. The second half deadlock was broken when Richardson drew in the Wasps defence and unleashed Ellie Garcia who scored out wide, 27-0.

Invigorated by Garcia's try Richmond came straight back with Lindsay Wheeler making two great breaks before Richardson found space and sped for line. She was tackled just short and spilled the ball.

Richardson was denied another try opportunity shortly after when a kick through was dropped by Wasps and touched down by the Richmond fly half. The ref deemed the dropped ball a knock on from the attacking side much to the dislike of the crowd and awarded a scrum to Wasps allowing them to defuse the attack.

Richmond's Libby Povey was yellow carded following three penalties in quick succession and Wasps piled on the pressure but the home sides defence held out.

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Lichfield 29 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 5

Lichfield returned to a very cold but bright Cooke Fields to play their final game of 2011 aiming to buold on their good win against Bristol last Sunday and make it three wins in the last three games.

The game started scrappily with both teams having to adjust to the boggy conditions under foot. The Lichfield forwards were dominant and with a number of good breaks and offloads, saw them threaten to break the deadlock but unforced errors kept the game scoreless.

Lichfield finally got on the scoreboard after deciding to take the scrum option from a free kick in the Mowden Park 22, and from the scrum the Lichfield pack marched the Mowden Park pack back towards their own try line and all Lichfield Number 8 Sarah Hunter had to do was fall on the ball to complete the score.

Mowden Park started to come back into the game through a number of Lichfield mistakes, but on the first occasion Lichfield were let off when the Mowden Park Kicker missed a 3 point opportunity. Darlington were soon back on the attack and after a good phase of possession saw their hooker Sam Jamieson score in the corner.

This score saw Lichfield come to life and they were soon back in the lead with a try from winger Rachel Jones after some good work by Full Back Mo Hunt put her into space and with some good footwork saw her beat her opposite number to race in and score in the corner.

The second half started off much the same as the first half did with a number of errors by both sides, Lichfield then made a number of changes which lead to a change in the tempo of the team and a score by winger Liz Polson soon followed, when a good phase of quick ball created by a break from centre Roz Crowley and good ball retention created an over lap which Mo Hunt saw and gave the final pass to put the winger in the corner.

Lichfield were now starting to dominate the game and were putting the Mowden Park defence under sustained pressure leading to a penalty in the Mowden Park Twenty two, Full Back Mo Hunt took a quick tap with the defence disorganised and scored under the posts, Emily Scarratt added the extras.

The Mowden Park defence were once again on the back foot through good work in the open from an organised Lichfield team who wanted to play quick rugby and also through some good tactical kicking by Centre Emily Scarratt.

More dominant work by the Lichfield forwards at scrum time saw Mowden Park give more penalties away and after one too many infringements the referee sin binned the Mowden Park scrum Half Emma Lloyd.

The pressure finally paid off, after some more good recycling by the whole Lichfield team lead to Hunter scoring next to the posts after a powerful drive through the defence giving Lichfield the bonus point, Emily Scarratt added the extras.

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Bristol 71 OA Saints 0

Bristol found themselves reversing the score-board numbers from 17 to 71 in their second victory against Old Albanians this season.

Bristol dominated throughout the game, starting at a high tempo and maintaining the pressure throughout. In particular the Bristol scrum proved hugely disruptive in the first half, and the home side had secured a bonus point by halftime

A further 6 well-worked, team tries were scored in the second half as they kept up the pace of the game, even when Old As worked hard to try and stem the attacking tide.Full tails on this game not yet available.