Loughborough Lightning battled their way to a bonus point on the road at the home of defending Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury.
Before the on-watching Red Roses head coach John Mitchell, Catherine O’Donnell scored two first-half tries at the Hartpury University Stadium. However, Emma Sing, Kelsey Jones, Hannah Jones and Sam Monaghan crossed Loughborough’s line to open a 28-14 lead at the break.
While Georgia Brock and Hannah Jones tries put the result beyond doubt to extend the hosts’ winning start to their title defence to five games, Nathan Smith’s side secured the consolation of a bonus point of their own through scores from Kathryn Treder and Bo Westcombe-Evans.
FIRST HALF
Lightning flew out of the blocks to strike first from a brilliant fourth-minute lineout move. Hooker Treder looped a fine ball to the tail before collecting and feeding Sadia Kabeya on a destructive angle back against the grain.
The forwards swarmed sensing an opportunity and after some patient and forceful work, O’Donnell forced her way over from close range and Helena Rowland converted to open a seven-point lead.
Gloucester-Hartpury responded eight minutes later when rapid work from the base of a ruck gave Sing a simple finish in the left corner. The fullback also dusted herself off to land a not-so-simple touchline conversion.
Kelsey Jones’ try from a powerful rolling maul gave the Cherry and Whites the lead before O’Donnell paid the price for Lightning’s collective ill-discipline and was yellow carded. A player down, a third try followed as Hannah Jones scooped up a stripped ball to run in from the half-way line. Sing remained relentless from the tee.
It was a strong break from Westcombe-Evans that got the visitors back in the game as she surged into the 22. The forwards piled in and forced Gloucester-Hartpury to transgress. With penalty advantage, Lightning swarmed and after a few attempts, it was O’Donnell who worked her way over for her second try of the game that Rowland converted.
Unfortunately, it didn’t prove to the be the final score of the half as Westcombe-Evans saw yellow for a deliberate knock on and eventually Loughborough ran out of numbers as Monaghan grounded from a few metres out. Sing added the extras to open a 28-14 lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
Before there were 15 African Violet shirts back on the pitch, the defending champions threatened a fifth score only for a fine Helen Nelson tackle to deny a two-on-one scoring position out wide. However, there was no stopping Brock shortly afterwards as she finished forcefully near to the posts. Sing was successful from the tee to put her side 35-14 ahead.
A lengthy period with no further scoring ended when Lightning twice drove a rolling maul and pushed their way over the goalline. The first effort was collapsed illegally resulting in a yellow card for Kelsey Jones. Any frustrations over no penalty try being awarded were eased when, from the resulting penalty, Treder finished off another brilliant drive for her third try in five games.
It didn’t prompt a late fightback as Helen Jones grabbed Gloucester-Hartpury’s sixth try with as many minutes remaining, with Sing converting from out wide via the right post.
There was time, however, for Westcombe-Evans to pull in a teasing Nelson pass to sprint over in the right to secure her side a point for their considerable efforts on the road.
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