Smith won’t take excuses after Lightning’s loss to Tigers

Loughborough Lightning head coach Nathan Smith refused to look for excuses after his side ended their preseason campaign with a home loss to Leicester Tigers.

With more than 20 players unavailable due to international selection or injuries, Lightning were edged out by their East Midlands rivals in a cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens encounter that ran for two-and-a-half hours.

But ultimately it was Tigers who responded best to multiple stoppages in the game due to weather conditions and complications arising from injuries to cancel out Meg Davey’s try with three of their own in a 19-7 away victory.

“We can look back and we could have a million excuses, but I don’t want to take those excuses,” said Smith. “I want to look at ourselves, look at our performance and work on where we can improve as a team. 

“We have got two weeks now until we go into the first league game against Bristol.

Lightning started their 2024/25 preparations with a behind-closed-doors training match against Buckingham before defeating Sale Sharks 45-31 in the PWR Up Series a fortnight ago.

Scorers of four of the seven tries registered in the CorpAcq Stadium success were not available this time around as Bulou Mataitoga and Hallie Taufoou teamed up with Kathryn Treder and Alev Kelter in the USA Eagles camp for WXV while Bo Westcombe-Evans was called up by the Red Roses along with teammates Lilli Ives Campion, Emily Scarratt and Helena Rowland.

Absences presented opportunities, with Smith providing some poignant context to the encounter. He said: “I think the PWR Up Series is about developing players and making sure that we are ready to go for the season. Freya MaColl made her first start for Lightning and then Molly Luthayi and Becky Boyd deserve massive pats on the back. 

“It was only 10 months ago that they were involved in a horrific car accident and potentially weren’t going to play rugby again. It is an amazing achievement. It is not always going to go your way, but I prefer it not to go our way this week than in two weeks’ time.”

A crowd of nearly 1,000 attended the PWR Up Series Round 3 encounter and stayed until the end at the Gardens despite the stoppages – a fact that was not lost on Smith.

“I’d like to thank the supporters for sticking with us during a really long and unusual game,” he added. “I really hope they come back for more against Bristol Bears when we will put in a performance that matches our identity.”

Tickets for Loughborough Lightning versus Bristol Bears in the opening round of the Premiership Women’s Rugby 2024/25 season at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 5 October (kick-off: 3pm) are available priced from £7.50 for adults and £3 juniors* are available HERE.