Match Report: Loughborough Lightning 19 – 46 Bristol Bears

Loughborough Lightning produced a spirited second-half fightback against Bristol Bears but fell just short of salvaging a point from their 2024/25 Premiership Women’s Rugby opener.

Last season’s beaten finalists landed five tries in a blistering opening 20 minutes at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with Lightning’s only response coming courtesy of a Lucy Calladine try.

Lightning – without nearly 20 internationals due to the WXV and injuries – saw eight of their matchday squad play their first PWR minutes and were ultimately only edged 17-14 in the final hour of the match as Calladine grabbed a second and Issy Winter crossed the line in a much-improved second half.

FIRST HALF

Head coach Nathan Smith handed Lightning debuts to wingers Grace Deane and Cieron Bell as well as to scrum-half Alicia Maude, who played her first competitive game of 15-a-side rugby in nearly two-and-a-half years.

There was little time to settle into the match as Bristol flew out of the blocks, with winger Reneeqa Bonner scoring a hattrick of tries inside the first eight minutes. Millie David’s effort from distance registered a bonus point for Dave Ward’s side with just 13 minutes played.

Lightning, to their immense credit, did not allow heads to drop, and after Lia Green booted a strong penalty kick to touch, a slick lineout move saw Abby Duguid make ground before returning the ball to hooker Calladine to mark her first PWR start with a try.

Green produced a stunning trysaving tackle to deny Lucy Burgess soon after, however, Bristol kept the pressure on and got their fifth try through hooker Jess Sprague as the first quarter ended with Lightning trailing 29-5.

No further scoring action came before the break despite the best efforts of Ellen Scantlebury after her lung-bursting break from deep put Kendall Waudby into the 22 only for some strong covering defence to deny the African Violets. Minutes previously, a forward drive to the line was agonisingly lost forward.

SECOND HALF

After a steady start to the second period, Lightning were hit by a rapid David double to complete her hattrick either side of Scantlebury’s yellow card for foul play trying to prevent the first of two tries in as many minutes.

Trailing 41-5 with half-an-hour to play, Lightning showed tremendous spirit to stay in the battle as lock Keevy Fitzpatrick and winger Freya Greensmith arrived from the bench for their first PWR outings.

Jennifer Herring saw yellow to even the sides and Lightning capitalised when a rolling maul edged its way deep into the left corner, upon the recycle, Calladine somehow managed to ground under intense pressure from three defenders. Green backed up the score with an excellent conversion from out wide.

Winter and Freya MacColl arrived from the bench for their first PWR appearances with the latter becoming the fourth Lightning player to make their competitive debut for the club.

Amy Coles landed Bristol’s eighth try of the encounter with ten minutes remaining, but the final points of the match were secured by Lightning when Winter finished forcefully after a period of pressure in the 22 and Green kicked a second successful conversion.

Lightning’s attentions now turn to a trip to Trailfinders Women, who started their campaign with a 38-29 loss at Saracens, on Sunday 13 October (kick-off: 12.45pm).

LINE-UPS:

LIGHTNING: Green, Deane, Scantlebury, Morrall, Bell, Davey, Maude, Curphey, Calladine, Keates, Duguid, Boyd, Waudby, Roberts, Hibbert-Jones (c).
Replacements: Baverstock, Williams, Adjei-Ansere, Fitzpatrick, Winter, Weaver, MacColl, Greensmith.

BEARS: Lovibond, Bonner, De Vera, Webb, David, Reed (c), ⁠Burgess, Pam, Sprague, Marston-Mulhearn, Cunningham, Burns (vc), Nigrelli, Herring, ⁠Marston-Mulhearn.
Replacements: Pashaei-Tarighoun, ⁠Jaques, Beet, Balogun, ⁠Caux, Lewis, ⁠Evans, Coles.