Kabeya is class apart as Lightning strike seven

By SAMUEL ROBERTS

L'ghborough .. 45pts

Tries: Nelson 8, Kabeya 12, 18; O'Donnell 33, Mataitoga 36, Rowland 70, Rollie 80

Conversions: Rowland 9, 19, 34, 37, 71

Trailfinders …. 21pts

Tries: Cox 15, Laflin 40, Seye 44

Conversions: Green 16, 41, 45

SADIA Kabeya celebrated her Red Roses recall by scoring twice in Loughborough's bonus point win. The 21-yearold missed out on England's WXV success last year due to injury but her return to form and fitness saw her selected along with four Lightning teammates for next week's camp ahead of the Six Nations.

Kabeya struck for two tries in the first half after Helen Nelson had opened the scoring with a strong finish. Catherine O'Donnell and Bulou Mataitoga also scored but Trailfinders remained in the fight with Carys Cox and Vicky Laflin getting fine counter attacking tries.

Sara Seye and Helena Rowland traded tries before Chloe Rollie grabbed the final points as Lightning secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

“Sadia is a world-class seven,” said Lightning coach Nathan Smith. “Defensively there is no-one in the game as good as her, attack is her biggest work on. She showed some great ball carries and managed to get over the line as well.”

Lightning enjoyed a strong start with their forwards laying the foundations with a huge rolling maul that collapsed near to the line, upon the recycle, Nelson arrived on a hard line to finish. The second came from another strong maul that Kabeya applied the final touch to.

Trailfinders remained in the fight with amoment of magic as Julia Schell broke in behind allowing Abbie Dow to put Cox in under the posts. It didn't lead to a swing in momentum as Kabeya poached well from close range after Nelson had softened up the defence with another hard carry.

Trailfinders were dealt a blow on the halfhour mark as influential No.8 Kate Zackary went off injured. Shortly after, O'Donnell smashed over from close range for the bonus point try.

Two more scores arrived before the break as Mataitoga weaved her way through from 25m but Trailfinders closed the gap to 19 points when Laflin finished brilliantly from halfway.

Trailfinders built on that four minutes after the restart as Cox raced free and after some strong defensive work on the scramble, it was Seye who struck with Ellie Green landing a third conversion. Lightning closed out the game with Rowland running onto her own chip to take her match contribution to 15 points before Rollie went over in stoppage time.