Head coach Nathan Smith believes Loughborough Lightning created enough chances to claim victory against Harlequins.
The visitors to the Twickenham Stoop led for an hour of the Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 4 encounter with tries from Bo Westcombe-Evans, Laura Keates and Megan Davey plus two Emily Scarratt conversions.
Ellie Kildinne’s try with ten minutes remaining saw Quins take the lead for the first time – an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish to the final whistle to claim maximum points with a 22-19 win.
“I was really proud of the team,” said Smith. “We stuck to our DNA of being brave and chasing down four tries and I felt we brought our training intensity to life at times. It’s just disappointing that we didn’t end up on the right side of the result.
“We’ve created enough chances to win the game, I just think there was two or three execution errors right at the critical point that has cost us.”
Nathan Smith
Lightning twice kicked central penalties for the corner when they were ahead by four points, before Kildunne’s landed her mazy sucker-punch score that started from just outside her own goal line.
“We didn’t execute our lineout well enough, that’s on me,” added Smith. “Then it was just the final pass. Fair play to Quins, there was two or three opportunities where I though we’d scored and they just managed to throw somebody in the way.
“It was a great game. This is what the sport has been lacking. The quality of the games has just not been there without the internationals. It was a good game and I am sure anyone watching it would’ve been entertained.”
Lightning have a bye in Round 5 and return to action on Sunday 10 November when they make the long trip south to take on Exeter Chiefs. Their next home game at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is on Saturday 23 November (kick-off: 2pm) when Leicester Tigers are the visitors – tickets are available by clicking HERE.
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