Match Report: Loughborough Lightning 19 – 27 Exeter Chiefs Women

Loughborough Lightning produced a spirited and determined display but ultimately came up just short against last season’s beaten finalists Exeter Chiefs.

In their second home Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby fixture of the season staged at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Nathan Smith’s side put on a Herculean defensive effort to make the visitors scrap for every point they achieved.

For all their first-half domination of possession, Exeter took only a five-point lead in at the break with Maisy Allen and Alex Tessier crossing before Emma Wassell responded.

A dramatic second half would deliver five tries as Lightning crossed through Kathryn Treder and a penalty try. However, Eilidh Sinclair’s brace, sandwiching an effort from Daleaka Menin, secured Chiefs maximum points.

FIRST HALF

Buoyed by a brilliant victory at Sale Sharks in Round 5, Lightning were forced to repel wave after wave of pressure as Chiefs looked to bounce back from their loss at Gloucester.

A scrum penalty won on their own feed appeared to relieve the pressure for the hosts, only for a penalty to be conceded giving Tessier the chance to kick to touch. From a close-range rolling maul, it was flanker Allen who rumbled over to open the scoring.

Their second try was a moment of magic from fly-half Tessier who grubbered in behind before racing on to ground with Gabby Cantorna converting 12 minutes before the break.

Late into the first period, Lightning had their strongest period of play as they twice turned down kickable penalties to go in search of a greater reward. That approach paid dividends as the forwards punched holes before Wassell muscled her way over. Helena Rowland’s successful conversion cut the deficit to five at half-time.

SECOND HALF

Three minutes after switching sides, Exeter managed their third try of the game as Tessier’s looping pass was finished well by Sinclair in the right corner under pressure from covering tacklers.

Kabeya enjoyed a busy first half full of bone-crunching tackles and in the second period got to showcase the other side of her game as she glided through a gap in the Exeter midfield. When play swung left a three-on-two opportunity opened up only for the final pass failing to go to hand.

With 17 minutes remaining, Lightning got themselves back in the game following another period of sustained pressure close to the goalline. From a penalty kicked to touch, a brilliant rolling maul was expertly marshalled by hooker Treder to finish off.

Hopes of the unconverted score prompting a late comeback victory to rival Northampton Saints’ victory over Toulon at this venue a week previously were dented when Menin landed the bonus-point sealing try from a few metres out.

There was to be late drama that followed the narrative of the above mentioned match as the visiting team received two yellow cards in quick succession.

Firstly, Mairi McDonald was carded for some over-zealous defensive work and Lightning went to the corner. Treder was guiding another robust rolling maul that was collapsed illegally, leading to a penalty try and Menin’s afternoon finishing early.

With a two-player advantage and five minutes to overhaul a three-point deficit, hopes were high that Lightning could snatch victory. However, Exeter showed their class carrying hard up the middle of the field and into the 22. With the final play of the game, Sinclair scampered over in the right corner to deny Loughborough a losing bonus point.