Loughborough Lightning suffered a heartbreaking defeat at The Stoop as Ellie Kildunne’s late try claimed victory for Harlequins.
Lightning led by four points at the break as tries from Bo Westcombe-Evans and Laura Keates, both converted by Emily Scarratt, sandwiched a pair of unimproved five-pointers from Connie Powell and Lisa Neumann.
Meg Davey and Carys Phillips exchanged tries in the second half but it was a mesmeric late score from Red Roses international Kildunne that settled the Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 4 contest.
FIRST HALF
Debutant Krissy Scurfield was given two early opportunities to show her defensive skills as she swept brilliantly to field a dangerous-looking Kildunne chip and minutes later, leap athletically to stop a penalty from reaching touch.
With their first foray into the Harlequins 22, Lightning came away with the game’s first try. After a penalty was booted to touch, Daisy Hibbert-Jones’ charge got the defence on the backfoot before play was switched down the blindside for Helen Nelson to put Westcombe-Evans over in the left corner. Emily Scarratt added a brilliant conversion from out wide after 13 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Red Roses’ winger’s participation in the game ended shortly afterwards after suffering a leg injury and she was replaced by Bulou Mataitoga.
The tide turned the way of the hosts with two tries in as many minutes as Connie Powell rumbled over from a rolling maul then Neumann read a Lightning crossfield kick in their own 22 to snatch five points.
However, it was Lightning who went in at the break ahead. Mataitoga returned a kick with interest, embarking on a mazy run that took play deep into enemy territory. A kickable penalty was turned down under the posts, and that bold call was rewarded when Keates drove over through a mass of bodies.
Scarratt’s second conversion gave Lightning a four-point lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
Lightning were dealt a second injury blow minutes after the restart when the returning Rachel Malcolm hobbled off injured to be replaced by Becky Boyd.
Just as they did in the first half, it was the visitors who landed the first points of the period. A rolling maul, marshalled by replacement hooker Kathryn Treder went close, while Quins reset, scrum-half Davey sniped expertly to open a nine-point gap entering the final third of the encounter.
The response was a strong one from the home team as a series of powerful forward carries gobbled up metres and it was replacement hooker Phillips who was driven over. A third missed conversion kept Lightning four points ahead entering the final third.
Twice the African Violets turned down kickable penalties to go to the corner and twice their efforts to secure a bonus point and match-sealing try fell just short.
Those failures to convert field position into points were compounded when Kildunne weaved her way down the left wing from inside her own half to score under the posts, presenting Lagi Tuima with a tap-in.
There was further late drama as Quins prematurely celebrated the win after clearing to touch with time still to play. Lightning pounded away in the 22 but couldn’t unlock the door and were left with the consolation of a losing bonus point.
LINE UPS
HARLEQUINS: 15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Katie Shillaker, 13. Sarah Parry, 12. Lagi Tuima, 11. Lisa Neumann, 10. Kayleigh Powell, 9. Lucy Packer (vc); 1. Silvia Turani, 2. Connie Powell, 3. Babalwa Latsha, 4. Danelle Lochner, 5. Kaitlan Leaney, 6. Abbie Fleming, 7. Alex Callender, 8. Jade Konkel (c)
Replacements: 16. Carys Phillips, 17. Laura Delgado, 18. Lizzie Hanlon, 19. Sarah Bonar, 20. Maja Meuller, 21. Freya Aucken, 22. Ella Cromack, 23. Izzy Mayhew
LIGHTNING: 15 Fran Goldthorp, 14 Krissy Scurfield, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Megan Davey, 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Elis Martin, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Hallie Taufoou, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Rachel Malcolm (cc), 7 Kendall Waudby, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (cc).
Replacements: 16 Kathryn Treder, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Issy Winter, 20 Becky Boyd, 21 Leia Brebner-Holden, 22 Lia Green, 23 Bulou Mataitoga.
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