Match Report: Exeter Chiefs Women 40 – 19 Loughborough Lightning

Loughborough Lightning provided a stern test for Premiership Women’s Rugby table-toppers Exeter Chiefs but ultimately left Sandy Park with no match points to show for their considerable efforts.

The visitors were behind by just 12 points approaching half-time as Dorothy Wall, Sabrina Poulin and Alex Tessier all crossed the line with Laura Keates getting Lightning on the scoreboard.

But a key momentum-shifting score for Exeter against the run of play from Hope Rogers opened a 26-7 on the stroke of half-time. 

Lightning stayed in the contest in the second half through a sublime Krissy Scurfield try from distance and Kathryn Treder’s first of the season, but Chiefs remained out of reach with Poulin grabbing a second and Ebony Jefferies also dotting down to extend their winning run to six matches.

FIRST HALF

Lightning brought Helena Rowland in for her first club appearance of the season having played a key role in the Red Roses retaining their WXV 1 title, while Bulou Mataitoga and Abby Duguid returned to the starting line-up from the one that was narrowly defeat against Harlequins a fortnight ago.

It was Exeter’s muscle up front in the opening exchanges that was telling as Jefferies put Wall through a gap to reach over despite some desperate last-ditch defence after just four minutes.

That lead was extended after ten minutes when Nathan Smith’s side were penalised twice in succession and found themselves defending their own line as a consequence. 

Having initially dealt with the pressure, Exeter countered well from a clearance kick with Poulin crossing for her first of the afternoon. Tessier converted, and Lightning found themselves 12 points down.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however, as Lightning scrapped their way back into the game with the back row trio of Hallie Taufoou, Kendall Waudby and Daisy Hibbert-Jones in particular leading the charge.

From a driving maul, the away side were brought down eight metres out. But they recycled well and after multiple phases edging closer to the line, Keates barged her way over for a trademark try. Fellow Rugby World Cup winner Emily Scarratt knocked over the conversion from in front of the posts and cut Exeter’s lead to five points.

The hosts restored their two-try advantage on the half-hour mark. After a sustained period of pressure from Exeter, a grubber kick ten metres from the line wasn’t dealt with and Tessier herself pounced on the loose ball and grounded for a try she then converted.

When Exeter lost Flo Robinson to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on, Lightning rumbled a rolling maul ominously towards the line for a score that would’ve dramatically changed the tone of the half-time team talk.

But disaster struck as somehow Exeter came away with the ball and broke free, prompting some desperate defence from Rowland and Scurfield – with the latter being yellow carded for her actions.

Exeter bagged the bonus point before the break as Rogers forced her way over and another successful conversion saw the home side go in at half time 26-7 ahead.

SECOND HALF

Further distance was put between the sides on the scoreboard ten minutes after the restart when Poulin broke through and scored from ten metres out for her second try of encounter.

What happened next was barely believable. Having been on the receiving end of a 90-metre try when Ellie Kildunne struck a fortnight ago, it was Canadian star Scurfield who showcased her abundant pace and footwork to scorch up the left wing and win the foot race to the corner to open her Lightning try-scoring account.

Almost instantly, Exeter hit back. The hosts turned the ball over five metres from the line and found space out wide for Jefferies to dive under the posts. Tessier added the extras.

Hopes of a famous away win were now fading but the possibility of salvaging a tryscoring bonus point was raised when replacement hooker Treder guided a maul over by the right corner flag with 13 minutes remaining

But try as they might, Lightning couldn’t find that illusive fourth score as they now enjoy a week off before welcoming Leicester Tigers to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 23 November (kick-off: 2pm). Tickets are available priced from £7.50* adults and £3* juniors by clicking HERE.

LINE UPS

CHIEFS: 15 Lori Cramer, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Nancy McGillivray, 12 Alex Tessier, 11 Sabrina Poulin, 10 Liv McGoverne, 9 Flo Robinson; 1 Hope Rogers, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Poppy Leitch (c), 5 Dorothy Wall, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Maddie Feaunati, 8 Rachel Johnson
Replacements: 16 Clara Nielson, 17 Demi Swann, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Niamh Orchard, 20 Emily Robinson, 21 Lucy Nye, 22 Gabby Cantorna, 23 Taylor Black

LIGHTNING: 15 Fran Goldthorp, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Helen Nelson (cc), 11 Krissy Scurfield, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Megan Davey; 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Elis Martin, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Hallie Taufoou, 7 Kendall Waudby, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones
Replacements: 16 Kathryn Treder, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Issy Winter, 20 Becky Boyd,  21 Lucy Weaver, 22 Ellie Tromans, 23 Carmela Morrall 

* All tickets ares subject to a £1.50 booking fee.