Valkyries swoop to first victory in 5-star show
WORCESTER Valkyries delivered a five-star performance as they came from behind against Firwood Waterloo Ladies to claim a first-ever Premier 15s victory with a 27-19 triumph.
The visitors dominated the early exchanges and opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Lydia Thompson crossed the whitewash wide on the right.
The home side then began to put some phases together and levelled the score when Irish full-back Lauren Delany, earning her 50th cap for the club, forced her way over after an incisive run.
Vanessa Temple broke through and side-stepped the covering defender to score, before Beth Stott added the conversion on her 150th appearance for Waterloo to make it 12-5 to the hosts.
But tries from Vicky Foxwell, Vicky Laflin, Lisa Campbell and Cara Clarke saw the Valkyries storm into the lead, before Delany grabbed a late consolation for Firwood Waterloo.
There was also plenty of drama in the top of the table clash between Saracens and Loughborough Lightning as the league leaders scored in the dying seconds to secure a 31-28 victory.
A Lottie Clapp brace and one try for Bryony Cleall saw Saracens race into an early lead, before England captain Sarah Hunter touched down for Lightning to make it 19-7 at half-time.
Poppy Cleall scored another for Saracens after the restart, before Olivia Jones, Dalaeka Menin and Sarah Bonar all crossed to give Lightning the lead for the first time.
But Saracens crashed the comeback in the dying moments to take the victory.
Wasps Ladies were also in fine form as they ran in seven tries against Gloucester-Hartpury Women to secure their spot in the play-offs with a dominant 47-20 victory.
The hosts were in front early thanks to Kelly Smith going over in the corner, but they were pegged back by two Lizzie Goulden penalties for Wasps.
Smith then scored her second as Gloucester-Hartpury went back in front before the visitors struck through Kate Alder and Hannah West to go into the break 20-10 up.
Millie Wood touched down to reduce arrears but Alice Sheffield extended Wasps' advantage before Abby Dow and Cliodhna Moloney score further tries in a late onslaught.
Elsewhere, a late Lucy Attwood brace added extra gloss to the result as Bristol Bears Women ran out comfortable 24-5 winners against Richmond at Shaftesbury Park.
Alex Zdunek went over inside five minutes to give the hosts a perfect start, but Bristol soon responded when England prop Sarah Bern raced over on her return to club action.
The game remained tight until the final ten minutes when Clara Nielson went over for Bristol's second try of the game before Attwood made her telling contribution.
Meanwhile, Harlequins Ladies kept the pressure up on Saracens at the summit of the league after thrashing Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 76-12 with a dominant 12-try display.
Hat-tricks from Heather Cowell and Bethany Wilcock exemplified a dominant performance for Harlequins, with the former opening the scoring early on as she crossed in the corner.
It was soon followed by Wilcock's senior debut try, while hooker Davinia Catlin and captain Rachel Burford, who was the recipient of a wonderful assist from Ellie Green, also dotted down.
Wilcock put the game out of sight before half time with her second, before Evie Tonkin and Tamara Taylor got Sharks on the board either side of a second try for Cowell.
Quins picked up where they left off after half-time with a Jade Konkel try.
Cowell and Wilcock then completed their hat-tricks before Charlie Wellbelove notched her debut try, with Fiona Fletcher and Lucy Packer completing the scoring with two late efforts.The visitors dominated the early exchanges and opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Lydia Thompson crossed the whitewash wide on the right.
The home side then began to put some phases together and levelled the score when Irish full-back Lauren Delany, earning her 50th cap for the club, forced her way over after an incisive run.
Vanessa Temple broke through and side-stepped the covering defender to score, before Beth Stott added the conversion on her 150th appearance for Waterloo to make it 12-5 to the hosts.
But tries from Vicky Foxwell, Vicky Laflin, Lisa Campbell and Cara Clarke saw the Valkyries storm into the lead, before Delany grabbed a late consolation for Firwood Waterloo.
There was also plenty of drama in the top of the table clash between Saracens and Loughborough Lightning as the league leaders scored in the dying seconds to secure a 31-28 victory.
A Lottie Clapp brace and one try for Bryony Cleall saw Saracens race into an early lead, before England captain Sarah Hunter touched down for Lightning to make it 19-7 at half-time.
Poppy Cleall scored another for Saracens after the restart, before Olivia Jones, Dalaeka Menin and Sarah Bonar all crossed to give Lightning the lead for the first time.
But Saracens crashed the comeback in the dying moments to take the victory.
Wasps Ladies were also in fine form as they ran in seven tries against Gloucester-Hartpury Women to secure their spot in the play-offs with a dominant 47-20 victory.
The hosts were in front early thanks to Kelly Smith going over in the corner, but they were pegged back by two Lizzie Goulden penalties for Wasps.
Smith then scored her second as Gloucester-Hartpury went back in front before the visitors struck through Kate Alder and Hannah West to go into the break 20-10 up.
Millie Wood touched down to reduce arrears but Alice Sheffield extended Wasps' advantage before Abby Dow and Cliodhna Moloney score further tries in a late onslaught.
Elsewhere, a late Lucy Attwood brace added extra gloss to the result as Bristol Bears Women ran out comfortable 24-5 winners against Richmond at Shaftesbury Park.
Alex Zdunek went over inside five minutes to give the hosts a perfect start, but Bristol soon responded when England prop Sarah Bern raced over on her return to club action.
The game remained tight until the final ten minutes when Clara Nielson went over for Bristol's second try of the game before Attwood made her telling contribution.
Meanwhile, Harlequins Ladies kept the pressure up on Saracens at the summit of the league after thrashing Darlington Mowden Park Sharks 76-12 with a dominant 12-try display.
Hat-tricks from Heather Cowell and Bethany Wilcock exemplified a dominant performance for Harlequins, with the former opening the scoring early on as she crossed in the corner.
It was soon followed by Wilcock's senior debut try, while hooker Davinia Catlin and captain Rachel Burford, who was the recipient of a wonderful assist from Ellie Green, also dotted down.
Wilcock put the game out of sight before half time with her second, before Evie Tonkin and Tamara Taylor got Sharks on the board either side of a second try for Cowell.
Quins picked up where they left off after half-time with a Jade Konkel try.
Cowell and Wilcock then completed their hat-tricks before Charlie Wellbelove notched her debut try, with Fiona Fletcher and Lucy Packer completing the scoring with two late efforts.
