English Premiership: Worcester march on

Seeherefor the league table

Thurrock 5 Worcester 72

Worcester made the journey to T Birds on a great run of form and kept up their unbeaten start with a huge win.

Worcester knocked on from the kick off which gave T Birds a platform for their intended pattern of play as their forwards played keep ball for six minutes forcing the visitors on the defensive.

In the early exchanges the home side were more than a match for the league pacesetters, however, a strong tackle from player of the game, Louise Dennis, having her first start at hooker, saw turnover ball followed by slick passing through the backs and an opening try Samantha Bree in the corner.

Sadly for T Birds, this was the opening of the floodgates and despite some spirited and robust defence; Worcesters dominance came through with try scoring bonus point -achieved before half time. To their credit, T Birds did score a consolation try in the 20th minute when Worcester reacted very slowly to a penalty and Tamara Nichols touched down.

T Birds , supported by the very vocal home crowd, came out for the second half with a determined attitude, but could not match the quality of Worcesters play which saw some sublime exchanges of passing and lines run by the backs and forceful effective running from Heather Fisher, who along Danielle Waterman scored hat tricks. Worcesters replacement players all acquitted themselves admirably, especially scrum half Bianca Blackburn when replacing the injured Charlotte Keane at half time. Other try scorers were Ceri Large (2), Katherine Merchant (2) and Zoe Bennion(1)

This was a very clinical Worcester performance but the league leaders will doubtless find next weeks fixture against Richmond a stronger measure of their improvement. For Thurrock they know that despite their fantastic phsyical commitment and endeavour, they have plenty of technical work ahead if they want to remain a Premiership team.

Richmond 29 DMP Sharks 5

Richmond kept their winning ways going with a hard fought but convincing enough win over DMP Sharks at home at the weekend.

Richmond started the match positively, depriving their opponents of the ball for most of the first 10 minutes. Despite the possession, they came away with just three points when Abi Chamberlain was on target with a penalty kick.

Katy McLeans restarts sought out Nele Van Hove time and time again but the flanker was secure under the high ball and made ground each time giving Richmond good set-up ball.

DMP finally got into the game and showed good turn of pace with the winger Ruth Laybourn making an impact and giving a glimpse of the form that has seen her picked for the EPS squad.

The first half continued in a tense fashion with neither side breaking through before Lynne Cantwell saw a gap and made a darting run. Holly Myers was in support to take the pass and score her first try for Richmond; 8-0.

From the restart Sophie Nicholas ran the ball up the pitch before passing to Myers, again supporting the runner, to score her second try. Chamberlain kicked the conversion, giving Richmond a 15-0 lead at half time.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first which saw both teams struggle to finish off promising attacks.

DMP broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with Sophie Spence finally bursting through as she had threatened to do all day; 15-5.

Richmond began to look a more attacking threat and it fell to Chamberlain to cut through the Sharks defence and score under the posts all but securing the win. Jackie Shiels took over kicking duties to convert the try and give Richmond a 22-5 lead.

In the final phase of play Richmond were awarded a penalty try after their scrum had marched the ball over the line before a DMP player interfered from an offside position. The try was converted by Shiels to secure a fairly comfortable win.

Wasps 24 Bristol 5

A sunny day at Twyford Avenue made for an exciting game, both teams producing a very high quality of rugby with Wasps showing their class to pull away 24-5 winners.

Wasps started the match at a high intensity which they kept up throughout though despite the majority of possession they failed to come away with points early whilst playing in the Bristol half.

Bristol produced some dangerous breaks through their backs and all international back row of Wales captain Rachel Taylor, Ireland's Claire Molloy and England's Izzy Noel-smith

With Wasps under pressure scored from a counter it was Bristol who scored first out wide with Sally Tuson powering over and putting the first points on the board.

The first half continued in a tight affair with Wasps having chances to score with Micheala Staniford and Sarah McKenna making breaks in the midfield and Liz Riley finding space to run on the wing and just before half time Jane Leonard cut through the defence to score under the posts, McKenna converting to put the home team 7-5 up at the break.

Shortly after half time Wasps stamped their authority on the game with winger Lynsey Douglas scoring a try on the blind from a scrum and then a great phase of play brought a try for McKenna who converted for a lead of 19-5.

Bristol continued to show spirit and played exciting running rugby, creating a few chances out wide but a fantastic defensive effort in particular by young winger Marrisa Lowe kept the visitors from scoring. Wasps added one more try from Danielle Powley on her firsts debut to finish the match 24-5.

Saracens 15 Lichfield 17The kicking of Emily Scarratt was the difference for Lichfield as the Midlands side edged Saracens 17-15.

The class of half backs Mo Hunt and Scarratt ensured Lichfield played in the right areas of the park and it was the quick thinking of the former who took a tap penalty to create overlap for hooker Becky Williams to dive over in the corner for the first score.

In a relatively scrappy game, much of the play was found around the half way area until a break for the lively Lichfield 13, Vicky Jackson, allowed some power play by the forwards and Harriet Millar- Mills edged herself over to take the score to 10-0 with 25 minutes played.

Saracens found their own power game and relentless charges by the front row of Kat Evans and Props, Kelly Wallis and Hilary Leith eventually led to the latter barging her way over from close range. 10-5 at half time.

The second half play was tit for tat exchanges with both sides showing similar forward led momentum. The hard work of Lichfields pack was to be rewarded when space was created outwide for Jackson who touched down for a well deserved score. Scarrat this time was spot on with the conversion to make the score, 17-5.

The final 25 minutes of the game were all Saracens and they responded incredibly positively despite some resolute fringe defence by Lichfield. Hilary Leith who had a wonderful game at prop, burst her way over again to take the score to 17-10 with 15 on the clock. With Scarratt and Hunt having to the leave the field, Lichfield found themselves unable to ease the Saracens pressure and strong breaks by Morely, Marchak and Leith opened the door for scrum half Leanne Riley to score wide of the posts.

With the conversion sneaking wide of the uprights, the score remaining 17-15 it was all to play for the final 6 minutes. Another Marchak break looked like it was going to be enough for the home side to steal the victory, however, a wonderful try saving tackle in the corner by Harriet Mills kept Lichfields two point lead save.