Worcester take giant step towards the title

Saracens 17 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 12

On a bitter afternoon Saracens just edged out this tight contest. In an end-to-end spectacle of rugby in which both sides tried to throw the ball about, Darlington took the lead on 22 minutes when Ruth Laybourn showed her speed with a strong drive from close range and powered her way over. Katie Maclean added the extras to make it 7-0.

Saracens got themselves back into the game with big surges from stand out props Hilary Leith and Kelly Wallis and it was the latter who charged 50 yards, offloading to Hannah Gallagher, who showed a nice turn of speed to beat the cover defence and finish well for a fine score.

In a well contested first half, both teams showed endeavour to keep the ball moving, however, it was from a set piece lineout that saw that lady again, Hilary Leith, who smashed her way over to take Saracens into the lead 10-7 at half time.

Both teams made changes at the half time and the introduction of Lauren Cattell at fly half for Saracens helped the home side build pressure. It was Cattell’s kicking that gave Saracens field position to exert pressure in the scrum, which eventually allowed Leah Carey to touchdown from the base. Cattell added the extras with a nicely struck conversion, 17-7.

The score ignited Darlington who got the better of the final exchanges. The excellent Abbie Scott continued to combine well with her back row colleagues of Jenny Evans and Ruth Nash to set up a good field position.

Yet again a strong Darlington lineout, with Araba Laasen at the helm, gave Mclean space and time, which she gratefully accepted and freed up Laybourn yet again. The England flyer showed her class breaking through the slightest of gaps inside the Saracens 22m area to touch down out wide. Mclean just missed with the extras as the game came to a conclusion, 17-12.

Wasp 10 Lichfield 63

Lichfield ran out comfortable winners over an off-key Wasps side at Twyford Avenue. England’s Emily Scarratt scored minutes into the game through an intercept and Lichfield capitalised on a range of early mistakes to go 21-0 up after 10 minutes - through Roz Crowley and Harriet Millar-Mills.

Wasps played positive rugby for the next 20 minutes in Lichfield’s half but their defence held strong to keep the home team out.

Lichfield however continued to click in attack, finding huge holes in the Wasps defence around the breakdown, with close support for the offload further tries were scored by Emily Braid, Vicky Fleetwood , Justine Lucas and Rose Jay. Scarratt was on fine form to convert all the first half tries to put Lichfield 49-0 up at half time.

Wasps started the second half like a different team, playing a direct game and making much improved tackles in defence. The stand out player from the second half was Tash Brennan who showed her explosive pace to get around the defence and score two tries. Lichfield replied with two of their own, Vicki Jackson making ground in the midfield and Roz Crowley continuing to run clever support lines.

Richmond 0 Worcester 20

The league-leaders Richmond took a huge step towards this season’s title with a fine away win over the reigning champions.

Worcester were hugely clinical when presented with chances in the game, scoring four fine tries.

Richmond started well but Worcester’s Jo Watmore broke early in the game, getting too easily around two tackles before offloading to Samantha Bree who was only halted from scoring by a superb tackle from Abi Chamberlain. The home side came hard in attack but when Kat Merchant intercepted a Richmond pass and off loaded to Sarah Guest, it was the away team who opened the scoring as she ran diagonally away from the cover defence to touch down for a 5-0 lead.

Richmond had the next opportunity to score when Worcester were penalised for an indiscretion on the floor, but the kick was pushed wide. Worcester then scored again, capitalising on a Richmond dropped ball. Ceri Large kicked through and Merchant won the race to the ball. She was well tackled by Lynne Cantwell, but the ball was recycled and worked from left to right where prop Laura Keates scored in the corner.

The second half started as the first had finished with Worcester under pressure from the kick off but the home side just weren’t clinical enough with their chances.

Awarded a penalty just inside Richmond's 22 Worcester took the quick tap, which resulted in Laura Keates diving over from short range to score her second.

Richmond fought back with strong breaks from Cantwell, now on the wing, and Susie Brown down the centre of the field, plus a threatening cross field kick from Alice Richardson. However, a knock on in attack from the replacement fly half allowed Worcester to break from their 5 metre line with a kick and chase from Bree.

From a resulting scrum on the Richmond 10 metre line the ball was quickly given to Merchant who ran towards and into space to score and secure a fine win.

Thurrock 5 Bristol 15

In this hard fought encounter, Thurrock picked up their first ever Premiership point in a narrow loss.

Bristol started strongly as expected and Thurrock barely put a hand on the ball for the first 30 minutes. Bristol quickly set up camp in T’s 22 and strong forward play created space out wide for Amy Wilson-Harding to go over in the corner after just six minutes.

With prop Sasha Acheson making strong runs and England backrow Marlie Packer creating havoc at the scrum and breakdown, the going was tough for Thurrock early on. Bristol were held up over the line and then Acheson claimed their second, all in the same corner to go 10-0 up after 20 minutes.

Thurrock rallied hard, led by returning captain XX Foy, and finally claiming some possession and with the crowd roaring them on, they fought their way out of their own 22 and began some progress up the pitch.

Ts now took full advantage of a yellow card issued to Bristol and attacked relentlessly. With the backs carrying well and cutting good lines, the forwards finished off a fine period of play with a drive over the line for Jo Convoy.

Both teams attacked and defended well for 20 minutes until a kick from Scott failed to find touch and Holly Molesworth, collecting the ball in acres of space broke through to go over in the corner for a 5-15 lead.

Thurrock worked their way back up the pitch and were held up over the tryline. The last 10 minutes were dominated by the home side, but despite another Yellow, this time for Packer, Bristol defended heroically. Time and again Thurrock were hauled down only a yard or two short and the score just would not come.