Match Report: Saracens 32 – 21 Loughborough Lightning

Loughborough Lightning pushed Saracens all the way but ultimately left the StoneX Stadium empty handed despite their considerable efforts, writes Josh Green.

A tremendous period in the second quarter of the game saw the visitors claw back a 14-point deficit built by Zoe Harrison and Alysha Corrigan tries to go in at the interval all square courtesy of responses from Krissy Scurfield and Fran Goldthorp – both converted by Emily Scarratt. 

Alev Kelter’s try closed the gap to three points after McKinley Hunt went over for the hosts,  but Saracens closed out the victory with a Fancy Bermudez try and a Harrison penalty in the closing minutes.

FIRST HALF

Lightning had the better of the opening ten minutes with ball in hand, but a combination of strong defence from the home side and a couple of handling errors, saw the scoreboard remain untouched.

It was Saracens who registered the first points of the game on the 15-minute mark. From close range, a quickly-tapped penalty from Harrison took the defence by surprise and the Red Roses international dived over and then converted her own score.

The dominance from the home side continued and if it wasn’t for a try-saving tackle from Helen Nelson to stop fullback Sarah McKenna, Sarries would have had a second score of the contest.

Saracens continued to knock at the door though and were finally rewarded with 15 minutes left to play of the half. Canadian Corrigan, who was denied a try just moments before after some great defensive work from Goldthorp, found a gap off the back of a scrum five metres out to dart over the line. Harrison again added the extras.

But Lightning did not sink and found a way back into the game. An initial break from replacement Bulou Mataitoga, on for the injured Helena Rowland, got Lightning deep inside the 22. And after the forwards barged their way within a couple of metres, the ball came wide and in the hands of Goldthorp who twisted her body and offloaded to Scurfield to scramble over for her third try in as many games.

That sparked momentum in the Lightning ranks, and in the blink of eye, the away side were level. A wonderful show and go from Nelson on the ten-metre line saw her race clean through. The Scotland international made it into the 22 before passing out wide to Goldthorp who dived over in the corner. Scarratt added the extras from wide out and there was nothing in it at the interval.

SECOND HALF

Lightning emerged for the second half with Sadia Kabeya thrust into proceedings for her first Lightning game of the season.

Sarries looked to have regained the lead ten minutes after the restart. Yet again though, a Lightning body was underneath Harrison on the line to hold her up and prevent the score.

Moments later, the hosts did have that third try. Hunt burrowed over from just a couple of yards out under the posts, with referee Holly Wood scouring a mound for bodies for a grounding before raising her arm. Harrison added the extras.

That lead was extended to ten points on the hour mark, as Harrison slotted a simple penalty from in front of the posts.

The African Violets refused to lie down and were rewarded with their third try of the game with 17 minutes left to play. 

A wonderfully-weighted Nelson grubber kick into the 22 bounced up into the hands of Kelter who gathered and reached forward under pressure to land her second try in as many games.

Another astonishing Scarratt conversion brought Lightning within three points and within touching distance of clinching a famous win.

Even when Bermudez went over in the corner, there was still hope of salvaging something from the game as Lightning turned down a kickable penalty in search of a fourth try that would’ve delivered two bonus points.

However, they fell short of delivering the five-pointer and Saracens then compounded that with a Harrison penalty with the last kick of the game. 

Lightning return to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday 8 December when defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury are the visitors (kick-off: 3pm). Tickets are available priced from £7.50* adult and £3* junior by clicking HERE.

LINE UPS

SARACENS: McKenna, Corrigan, Gregson, Hardy, Sharp (cc), Harrison, Wyrwas; Hunt, Campbell, Clifford, Evans, Cleall, Senft, Kasoli, Packer (cc)
Replacements: Field, Gondwe, Tremelling, McMillan, Bennett, Grant, MacDougall, Bermudez

LIGHTNING:  Nelson (cc), Goldthorp, Scarratt, Kelter, Scurfield, Rowland, Davey; Young, Treder, Curphey, Duguid, Ives Campion,  Taufoou, Waudby, Hibbert-Jones (cc)
Replacements: Martin, Williams, Keates, Boyd, Kabeya, Brebner-Holden, Morrall, Mataitoga