Match report: Loughborough Lightning 26 – 61 Gloucester-Hartpury

Loughborough Lightning claimed a tryscoring bonus point against rreigning Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury for a second time this season, but fell short of ending their unbeaten run this term.

Maja Meuller’s brace and solo scores from Laura Keates and Cath O’Donnell saw Nathan Smith’s side replicate their feat of the reverse fixture at the ALPAS Arena.

However, like that early January clash, the Cherry and Whites ran out comfortable winners as Alex Matthews, Tatayana Heard and Neve Jones all grabbed braces and Natasha Hunt, Laura Delgado and Steph Else crossed the line with Emma Sing landing eight of her nine conversions to keep the visitors to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on course for an unbeaten season.

FIRST HALF

Lightning had Carmela Morrall to thank for an incredible goalline tackle on Hannah Jones that denied an early score, however there wasn’t further heroics a few phases later when Heard’s angled run saw her cross close to the posts.

Wearing their change strip of Black, Green and Gold, the hosts roared back and it was returning Red Roses international Emily Scarratt who made huge inroads with a trademark burst that went inches away from its target. Laura Keates, a teammate of the centre when England won the World Cup a decade ago, was on hand to scoop up and wrestle her way over for a maiden Lightning try on the occasion of her first start.

Another star with Grand Slam winning pedigree, Sadia Kabeya, continued her strong Six Nations form with a barnstorming break out of her 22 to set pulses racing.

However, those hopes were hit when Gloucester-Hartpury’s dominant scrum presented Matthews with the easiest of finishes.

Lightning did not go into their shells and responded with a brilliant spell of sustained pressure in the 22 that led to a penalty concession. Helen Nelson prodded to touch and Sweden international Meuller landed her arrows before guiding a powerful maul over the line. From a tricky angle, Scarratt confidently converted to trail by just two points.

A lengthy stoppage ensued as Kelsey Jones was helped from the pitch, after which the visitors managed to add three tries before the break as Bethan Lewis put Matthews in for her second, Hunt sneaked over from a few inches before Matthews turned provider to put Heard in – with Sing landing all five conversions.

SECOND HALF

Replacement hooker Neve Jones struck from a rolling maul four minutes after the restart before Lightning went with a whisker of a memorable score when Scarratt’s crossfield kick was claimed by Bo Westcombe Evans, only for Mia Venner to produce a fine last-ditch tackle.

From the penalty advantage, Lightning flexed their muscle at maul time as Meuller landed her second and Scarratt’s extras cut the deficit to 21 points.

Delgado and Hurst both finished off sweeping moves from deep as the 2022/23 champions pulled comfortably clear on a sunny day in Northamptonshire.

The result may have been out of reach but Lightning’s pursuit of a point from the game was achieved when Red Roses international O’Donnell forced her way over under the posts for a try that was confirmed following a TMO check.

The last laugh was Gloucester-Harpury’s, however, as Neve Jones turned her pack’s dominance into seven points with Sing taking her personal haul to 16 points.

Lightning’s focus now turns to a return to the Gardens on Saturday 18 May, when their nearest Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby rivals Harlequins are the visitors (kick-off: 2pm). Tickets are available by clicking HERE.

LINE UPS

LIGHTNING: 15 Tasker,14 Scantlebury, 13 Scarratt, 12 Morrall, 11 Westcombe-Evans, 10 Nelson, 9 L Weaver; 1 A Williams,  2 Meuller, 3 Keates, 4 Wassell, 5 O’Donnell, 6 Malcolm (c), 7 Kabeya, 8 Hibbert-Jones.
Replacements: 16 Calladine, 17 Trevarthen, 18 Curphey, 19 Duguid, 20 Waudby, 21 S Williams, 22 M Davey, 23 Green.

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY: 15 Sing, 14 Venner, 13 H Jones, 12 Heard, 11 Hendy, 10, George, 9 Hunt (cc); 1 Carson, 2 Jones, 3 Muir, 4 Beckett, 5 Else, 6 Aldcroft (cc), 7 Lewis, 9 Mathews.
Replacements: 16 N Jones, 17 Perry, 18 Delgado, 19 Monaghan, 20 Brock, 21 Blackburn, 22 Hyett, 23 Lund.