’Lightning starting to develop own brand of rugby’, says Hibbert-Jones

Daisy Hibbert Jones believes Loughborough Lightning are establishing their ‘own brand of rugby’ on the pitch.

The African Violets scored four tries and threatened many more in their Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 10 home defeat to Harlequins, and not for the first time in recent months were within touching distance of a big victory entering the closing stages of a game.

But ultimately it was the visitors to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens who ended the strongest as they opened a four-point advantage with two late scores to head back to London with a 40-22 success.

“As a squad we have been waiting to put on a performance that we have created in training, that we’re proud of,” said co-captain Hibbert-Jones. “There was definitely elements of the Quins game that we are really proud of, and we are starting to develop in our Lightning brand of rugby that we’re starting to establish. 

“It is just really frustrating that we haven’t been able to back up positives with more positives, we slipped off in the game and lost our foothold a little bit.”

Hibbert-Jones grabbed her second try of the season to open the scoring after nine minutes with a powerful close-range finish after a period of pressure camped on the Quins line.

“That is definitely not my usual style!” she said. “We broke off from a maul and Sadia ran a cracking line and we built phases. We have been looking at that pick-and-go play for the past few weeks and not had too much success from it, so I was really pleased to get over for the try.”

For the second time in six days, Lightning were cheered on by a strong crowd at the Gardens, with many youngsters waving posters they had made in the Lightning Fan Zone run by Northampton Saints Community team prior to kick-off.

Hundreds of people arrived early into the stadium to participate in the activities, as well as catch a live stream of Lightning’s partner club Northampton Saints take on Vodacom Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup.

Hibbert-Jones, who juggles her playing commitments with a coaching role with Saints Community, is grateful for the support she and team are receiving.

“I know the team away from the pitch, away from Lightning, are working so hard to increase the number of people that want to come into the stadium and see us play,” added the 22-year-old. “We are actually starting to feel the effects, they are loud. 

Lightning have one match remaining in 2024 and comes on the road to Sale Sharks this weekend. The clubs have locked horns five times aready this calendar year in league, cup and PWR Up Series. Loughborough have come out on top on each occasion but Hibbert-Jones knows that will count for little on Saturday afternoon.

“This league, this table is about chasing down points,” she said. “Quins, for example, have done that really well. They’ve got the points when they needed them. We need to go to Sale and get five points from that game, to start creating a bit of distance between us and the teams below us. 

“We still have a lot to build on in training, I spoke to Nathan after the Quins game about it. There’s definitely elements of our game we are desperate to improve. This week in training, we want to finish the year as strong as we possibly can, as I am sure Sale do as well looking for their first win of the season. It should be a gritty match up north, but I am really excited for it and excited for the girls to hopefully to put on a display of that Lightning brand of rugby that we are trying to recreate.”