Loughborough Lightning started 2025 by making history with a first-ever victory over Saracens in front of a record crowd at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Partner club Northampton Saints set the tone for the day with a thrilling 35-34 victory over Bath, but Nathan Smith’s side did not require any last-minute heroics to claim their bonus-point success.
A Krissy Scurfield brace either side of Sadia Kabeya’s try was countered by Saracens crossing through Sydney Gregson and Zoe Harrison.
Emily Scarratt’s second-half try ensured the hosts would take at least a point out of the game but they ended up deservedly with all five, as Saracens were left with the consolation of a losing bonus point following Akina Gondwe’s late finish.
FIRST HALF
Lightning named an unchanged starting line-up for a third successive game as they set about securing back-to-back victories for the first time this season, after the 50-7 victory over Sale Sharks before Christmas.
It was the star of that show in Manchester, Canadian winger Scurfield, who picked up where she left off arriving on a short line from a midfield ruck and weaved her way mesmerically to the line from more than 40 metres out.
Saracens’ responded after 15 minutes when a period of sustained pressure ended with Harrison sniping from close range.
Flanker Kabeya was one of two Lightning players making their 50th appearance – along with lock Abby Duguid – and the Red Roses flanker marked the occasion when she applied the finishing touch to a rolling maul, with Scarratt’s conversion opening a seven-point lead with a quarter of the match played.
Once more it wasn’t a score Lightning would build upon as Gregson scampered over in the right corner when Saracens moved the ball wide well.
However the hosts were not knocked out of their stride and struck a third try when Helen Nelson broke brilliantly through centre field. Alev Kelter, who was a constant thorn in the side of her former team, aimed a perfect looping pass out wide for Scurfield to dive over close to the left corner flag to open a seven-point lead at the break.
LIGHTNING HAVE DONE IT!!!!!
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) January 5, 2025
⚡ 22-17 💫 pic.twitter.com/T01onxULpP
SECOND HALF
The conditions worsened after the break as Saracens tried to force their way back into the game but came up against a Lightning side fuelled with resilience and desire to complete the job.
Time and time again the visitors entered the red zone but came up against a wall of African Violet shirts scrapping for their lives, forcing errors and presenting opportunities for the likes of Nelson and Scarratt to clear their lines.
Entering the final third of the game, Lightning showed a ruthless edge with a series of penalties kicked to the corner. When the rolling maul stalled, Scurfield probed and pushed Saracens onto the back foot before feeding Scarratt to use all of her experience and power to ride the tacklers and ground the ball.
Saracens did manage to cause some late unrest when Godwe forced her way over, but Lightning closed out the game as Kelter boomed the ball into the Church’s Stand to secure a memorable victory.
More than 2,000 supporters remained in the stadium for part two of the double header of fixtures to set a new Lightning record crowd at the Gardens of 2,100. Only two home Premiership Women’s Rugby fixtures remain of Lightning’s season – with the penultimate coming against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday 19 January (kick-off: 3pm). For ticket information, please click HERE.
🎤 | 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘄𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲...
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) January 5, 2025
Returning co-captain Rachel Malcolm reflects on an historic 22-17 victory over Saracens at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. pic.twitter.com/hFVdVraIPx
LINE UPS:
LIGHTNING: 15 Goldthorp, 14 Mataitoga, 13 Scarratt, 12 Kelter, 11 Scurfield, 10 Nelson, 9 Davey; 1 Young, 2 Treder, 3 Keates, 4 Duguid, 5 Ives Campion, 6 Taufoou, 7 Kabeya, 8 Hibbert-Jones (cc).
Replacements: 16 Martin, 17 Williams, 18 Belisle, 19 Holtkamp, 20 Waudby, 21 Malcolm (cc), 22 Brebner-Holden, 23 Morrall.
SARACENS: 15 McKenna, 14 Corrigan, 13 Gregson, 12 Hardy, 11 Sharp (cc), 10 Harrison, 9 Wyrwas; 1 Hunt, 2 Field, 3 Clifford, 4 Galligan, 5 Evans, 6 Campbell, 7 Packer (cc), 8 Senft.
Replacements: 16 Tremelling, 17 Gondwe, 18 Montiel, 19 Cleall, 20 McMillan, 21 Infante, 22 MacDougall, 23 Grant.