Match Report: Loughborough Lightning 7 – 31 Gloucester-Hartpury

The might of Storm Darragh and defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury showing their pedigree combined for a difficult, but not devastating, home loss for Loughborough Lightning.

Gloucester-Hartpury arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in desperate need of a victory to get their Premiership Women’s Rugby season back on track after a surprise loss last time out to Bristol Bears, and duly delivered with two tries in the first half backed up by three in the second.

Lightning were hoping to build on their bonus-point success over Leicester Tigers the last time they played in front of their own supporters, but fell behind to an early Neve Jones try Maud Muir made it two to put the visitors a dozen points to the good at the break.

Nel Metcalfe, Natasha Hunt and Sisilia Tuipulotu all crossed the line after the break before Lightning gained some consolation for their considerable efforts when Lia Green reached over for her second try of the season – and her Lightning career.

The loss marks the halfway point of the 2024/25 season, with the second half commencing back at cinch Stadium against Harlequins on Saturday 14 December (kick-off: 3.05pm) – tickets are available priced from £7.50* adult and £3* junior by clicking HERE.

FIRST HALF: 

Lightning entered the match off the back of a spirited showing at Saracens in Round 8, but without two of their starting backs from that StoneX Stadium encounter as Helena Rowland and Francesca Goldthorp’s names were added to an injury list that includes the likes of internationals Rachel Malcolm, Cath O’Donnell, Bo Westcombe-Evans and Emma Wassell.

Having impressed during her return to action from the bench following an injury lay-off, Red Roses star Sadia Kabeya made the starting line-up for the first time in five months as blindside flanker, with Kendall Waudby operating at openside for an eighth consecutive PWR match.

Gloucester-Hartpury’s start to proceedings was almost as strong as the winds that tormented flags around the stadium as the kick-off was retained and three minutes of incessant pressure followed. When Lightning transgressed at the breakdown, a penalty was punted to touch and hooker Jones finished off an unstoppable maul inside five minutes. Emma Sing landed the extras.

Lightning, who had Helen Nelson operating from flyhalf and Bulou Mataitoga selected on the right wing, set up a golden opportunity to respond from an identical method. 

However, a fumble at the back of the maul was compounded by three successive penalties as Loughborough, in their change strip of Black, Green and Gold, suddenly found themselves defending their own line.

A quickly-tapped penalty ended some brave rearguard action as Red Roses powerhouse Muir bulldozed her way over from a few metres out.

The second quarter of the match passed without further score as Nathan Smith’s side gritted their teeth inside their own 22, thwarting a couple of near-certain tries to go in at the break with cause for optimism upon returning to the pitch.

SECOND HALF:

Hooker Elis Martin and prop Isla Curphey were introduced at the break, as Lightning started the second half as they did the first, inside their own territory in defensive mode.

Waudby’s alertness saw her swoop to pull in a lineout overthrow close to her own line and Mataitoga’s shuddering hit drew gasps from those watching nearby in the Carlsberg Stand.

Even when scrum penalties were won, Lightning found it hard to work their way out of their own territory and with the likes of England’s Alex Matthews leading the charge, Gloucester-Hartpury eventually made their pressure pay when Metcalfe went over tight to the right corner flag.

Approaching the hour mark, Hunt showed all of her experience to snipe from close range to secure the try-scoring bonus point, and when replacement Tuipulotu wrestled her way over, with Sing adding a third successful conversion, Gloucester-Hartpury were 31 points up with 15 minutes left to play.

Lightning refused to roll over and with the likes of youngsters Carmela Morrall, Issy Winter and Evelyn Clarke all arriving onto the field, they went in search of points to show for their efforts.

While Olympic Sevens 2024 silver medallist Krissy Scurfield’s run of three tries in as many games came to an end, her poaching ability at the breakdown remained as she earned a penalty to push into the Gloucester-Hartpury half.

With Sarah Beckett in the sin bin, paying the price for her team’s multiple penalty concessions defending their own line, Lightning finally found a way through the wall of pink shirts as fullback Green finished well under pressure from covering defenders.

Nelson converted well from out wide as Lightning provided some late cheer for the near 1,200 crowd that braved the conditions at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Lightning are back at their home venue in just six days time as they take on this season’s surprise package Harlequins, who are on a six-game winning run and sit second in the PWR standings at the league’s half-way point. 

LINE UPS:

Lightning: 15 Green, 14 Mataitoga, 13 Scarratt, 12 Kelter, 11 Scurfield, 10 Nelson (cc), 9 Davey; 1 Young, 2 Treder, 3 Keates, 4 Duguid, 5 Ives Campion, 6 Kabeya, 7 Waudby, 8 Hibbert-Jones.
Replacements: 16 Martin, 17 Curphey, 18 Belisle, 19 Winter, 20 Taufoou, 21 Brebner-Holden, 22 Morrall, 23 Clarke. 

Gloucester-Hartpury: 15 Sing, 14 Metcalfe, 13 Hendy, 12 Heard, 11 Venner, 10 Green, 9 Hunt (cc); 1 Buggy, 2 Jones, 3 Muir, 4 Beckett, 5 Aldcroft (cc), 6 Williams, 7 Lewis, 8 Matthews.
Replacements: 16 Boag, 17 Samuda, 18 Tuipulotu, 19 Else, 20 Copson, 21 Jones, 22 Hyett, 23 Scott.