English Premiership Review

Image from the weekend thanks to Rikki Teml. Seeherefor the new league table.

Richmond 14 Worcester 27

Hampered by a large numner of call ups to international rugby,  Worcester took full advantage of depleted Richmond side to sweep to an excellent away result.  Worcester too were without a number of regular starters but Kat Merchant’s side will be thrilled with a resulted few would have predicted before the game.

Worcester opened strongly, pinning the home side in their 22 for eight minutes, but in Richmond’s first attack, the visitor’s slack discipline gave Jayne Goodliffe the opportunity to open the home side's account with a well struck penalty.

Worcester hit back immediately with a flowing backs move that ended with Lisa Campbell scoring in the corner.

Richmond then used their experienced pack to deny Worcester possession and it was perhaps inevitable for Becky Essex to score following a scrummage, Goodliffe taking the extras. The hosts led at the break.

Merchant’s half time talk clearly had the desired effect as the visitors stormed forward from the kick off - this pressure resulting in an early penalty for Megan Goddard to reduce the deficit. From this point Worcester took command of the game with forwards and backs integrating well.

With the balance of possession now reversed, Kelly Smith scored an excellent try under the posts, outpacing the home defence from her own 22. Goddard took the extras.

Excitement mounted as Richmond brought the game pack to one point with a penalty from Goodliffe, but the visitors then pulled away to record an excellent and in the end comfortable victory with further tries from Laura Keates, converted by Goddard, and Rochelle Clark.

Wasps 27 Aylesford Bulls 15

Wasps took on Aylesford at Grasshoppers RFC beating an improving visiting side 27-15.

The game had barely started when Wasps’ Becca Rowe broke the line and scored under the post. . Gemma Rowland converted the try, putting Wasps 7-0 ahead early on.

Aylesford responded with some strong running from Sarah Riordan, however, the visitors gave away a penalty, which Rowlands slotted over the posts.

With Wasps up 10-0 already, at around 25 minutes in, Liz Riley added another try to the home side’s score.

Just moments before the half time whistle, Aylesford attacked the Wasps 22 and fell short after many phases, as Wasps defended with passion.

Aylesford came back strong in the second half, getting points on the board through a penalty kick, sent over the posts by fly half, Tayla Kinsey, Wasps 15 – 3 Aylesford.

A good phase of play from Wasps’ backs led to their third try of the game as winger, Marissa Lowe, broke through a tackle and went over to score. Rowland converted and Wasps were up 22 – 3.

Aylesford fought back, with Sarah Riordan making a break up the field, and despite two tacklers on her, stretched over the line to give the visitors their first try. This was converted by Kinsey.

A moment of confusion between the Wasps back three allowed Kinsey to make it down the pitch to score, though the try remained unconverted, taking the points difference to just 7 points.

In the final minute of the game, Wasps came back fighting, with a try from back row, Mel Moubtahij. The conversion was missed, but the try took Wasps up to 27 points, to Aylesford’s 15 and was enough to see then see out the win.

Saracens 41 Lichfield 8

Saracens are back at the top after this fine bonus point win over Lichfield

Prop Kerrie-Ann Craddock powered over the line early in this game for an early lead for the hosts.Lichfield replied immediately, winning a penalty in front of the sticks which was cooly slotted by full back, Sarah Nicholas bringing score to 5-3.

Sarah McKenna, who was outstanding throughout, proved a constant threat. Slicing through the Lichfield defence, she released young winger, Seraphine Okemba who put the burners on to score under the posts.

Saracens struck again immediately  with Craddock gathered a tricky restart, linking with Poppy Cleall who made a charging run to put McKenna through the gap and under the sticks. McKenna converted her try to make it 19-3.

Lichfield continued to press with some nice breaks courtesy of the energetic fly half, Natasha Jones and the hard hitting Vicky Jackson in midfield but could not penetrate the solid Saracens defence.

The home side had the final say in the first half, winning a penalty which McKenna put away to take the score to 22-3 at the break.

Saracens built on their first half momentum with no. 8, Sonia Green making an excellent break, offloading to her back row partner, Hannah Gallagher to score. McKenna added the extras 29-3.

The visiting sides defence was tested to the limit as Saracens pack surged forward but their line was finally breached with Gallagher over for her second of the day and the all important bonus point. 34-3.

McKenna added to her tally with an opportunistic try after pouncing on a loose ball after a fumble by the Lichfield midfield. The conversion was on target taking McKenna's contribution to 22 points.

Lichfield's Emily Braund gave excellent go forward, making vital yards off the base of the scrums. The visitors efforts were rewarded when second row, Stacy Maguire dotted down in the corner after some slick handling to finish the scoring.

Bristol 22 DMP Sharks 30

Bristol led in their home game at halftime but the visiting Sharks fought back strongly to secure an excellent away win.

Katie Mason scored first after skipping through the Sharks defence, with Amber Reed adding the conversion ane 10 minutes later Izzy Noel Smith showed some excellent footwork to get the ball out to May Campbell, who linked brilliantly with Sophie Hemming who then guided Siobhan Longdon Hughes into the corner bringing the score to 12 – 0. Sharks got one back before half time, ending the first half at 12 – 5.

Sharks upped their game for the second half, coming straight out a scoring a try. Bristol responded with Reed slotting home a penalty to take the score to 15 – 17.

Sharks played well, captialising on some individual errors and extending their advantage with another try, followed by a penalty. With the score at 15 – 27, Noel Smith was forced off with a head injury, leaving Bristol with only 14 players on the pitch. Nevertheless, Bristol pushed on, and Reed dived over the try line to ensure a tense end to the game. Soon after, Sharks slotted home a penalty taking the score to 22 – 30, and leaving Bristol with too much to do in the final 5 minutes.