Saracens 34-21 Loughborough Lightning
Defending champions Saracens held on to win over Loughborough Lightning in a close-fought first round of the Allianz Premier 15s season.
The scoreline did not reflect proceedings at Stone X Stadium as Lightning struck 3 times in the form of debutant Lauren Bolger who went the extra mile in the pursuit of improving on her team's seventh-placed finish last season.
In the end, the visitors could not make good on opportunities, allowing Saracens hooker May Campbell to respond with a hat-trick of her own.
Lightning come out flying but Sarries strike back
After a show-stopping Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the Premier 15s kicked off yesterday with fresh vigour and anticipation. These teams will have to do without many of their internationals for the first two weeks, however, giving rise to younger and more unfamiliar faces in these opening rounds.
As quality increases, there is a feeling that any team might upset the apple cart this season and Loughborough seemed to confirm this from the outset.
An early lineout allowed Lightning to open up play, putting the ball out back to Georgina Tasker who set Emma Hardy up nicely to sear into space. The inside centre made a deft final pass to Bolger and all that was needed was for the debutant to put the burners on in the outside channel – Lightning were off the ground.
Hardy added the extras but her team would fail to deliver in the next ten minutes despite some more neat angles and footwork on the edges from Tasker.
Saracens finally settled and started building momentum only to give away possession with a few reckless chips but they eventually managed to deliver after a sustained period of pressure and a bit of patience. Campbell drove through from the back of a driving maul to secure both her ninth try in four matches and the first Saracens score of the day.
Ella Wyrwas then levelled the playing field signalling a tight battle was on the cards.
The inexperience of these teams without their internationals showed in the remaining minutes of the first half. Both outfits seemed slightly frantic to put boot to ball and gave away possession at crucial moments.
Nevertheless, as the rain started to come down, Saracens put themselves ahead going into the second half. Campbell found her second score, darting over at close range after catching the Lightning defence napping on the blindside.
Second half burst sets up hard-fought win
Wyrwas missed the conversion but the hosts capitalised on Campbell's momentum, bursting out the gate in the second half with two tries in three minutes.
Kelsey Clifford went over after Saracens finally allowed their forwards to piece several phases together but former Wasps fly-half Flo Williams failed to convert.
Number 8 Grace Moore excelled in the contact just two minutes later, breaking deep into the Lightning 22 and giving Williams the opportunity to kick for the corner. The catch and drive followed and Campbell drove herself to a hat-trick and Saracens' fourth try of the day.
Lightning had work to do to keep themselves in the race but saw the light at the end of the tunnel after Saracens' Isla Alejandro was sin-binned. It didn't take long for them to capitalise on their extra player and a superb break from Georgia Bradley started their comeback. The lock popped the ball beautifully to Bolger who danced along the touchline and finished under the posts, followed by Hardy adding the extras.
Bolger continued their good form and showed her instinctive prowess with a stunning intercept only a few minutes later. Hardy went three for three and Lightning were pushing Saracens to their limit.
It was not to be, however, as the women in purple couldn't pull the trigger in the final quarter despite camping out in their opposition's 22 on multiple occasions.
With three minutes to go, Hardy was sin-binned after clashing heads with Lottie Clapp. Williams took the penalty kick and Saracens put the final nail in the coffin by sending Georgia Evans over as the clock turned red.
Williams nailed the conversion and Saracens have the perfect start to their league campaign with a bonus point win.
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