Smith hopes Sale result provides catalyst for Lightning to kick on in 2025

Loughborough Lightning head coach Nathan Smith hopes his side’s eight-try win over Sale Sharks will be the catalyst for rising up the table in 2025.

In their final game of the calendar year at the CorpAcq Stadium, Lightning converted a 12-point half-time advantage into a 50-7 success – their biggest victory under Smith’s tenure and their best since putting 70 points on DMP Durham Sharks in May 2023.

“I am absolutely delighted with the performance and it was a great way to the end the year,” said Smith. “It is the kind of performance we have been threatening and it was very pleasing for me and the coaches to watch it unfold like it did in the second half.

“We played with a real confidence and attacking intent, and when we do that, things open up for us. If we trust the system, have confidence in the system and stick to the system, we can cut teams open. The challenge now is, with all due respect to Sale, is to do this against clubs in the top half of the league when the season restarts in the New Year.

“It has been a strange season so far for us. I feel we’ve made big strides as a team but that hasn’t been rewarded with results. Hopefully that will change in 2025 and we can rise up the table.”

Krissy Scurfield scored a remarkable four tries in the contest, as the Canadian winger combined blistering pace with tenacity and strength to take her overall tally of scores to seven in as many games since the 21-year-old joined Lightning.

“When I signed Krissy I knew she had world-class talent and today she showed that in abundance,” added Smith. “I think sometimes people take it for granted, but it’s not easy to transition from Sevens rugby into 15s. 

“Krissy hasn’t played much senior 15s rugby but she is growing week on week. Her finishing was exceptional today and I’m excited to see what she can do for the rest of the season.”

Lightning are next in action on Sunday 5 January (kick-off: 5.30pm) when they take on Saracens Women in the second part of a double header with partner club Northampton Saints, who take on Bath in the first of two fixtures at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off: 3pm).

“That’s a challenge ahead of us that should really excite us,” said Smith. “We were disappointed not to come away from anything from the reverse fixture and we want to put that right, and also put on a bit of a show and play our part in the double header.”