PWR: Saracens 33-15 Loughborough - Sarries strike down Lightning in a storm at StoneX

The hosts would open the scoring through Alysha Corrigan, Canadian scrum half Olivia Apps making the break for the winger to get onto the end of a perfectly timed pass to touchdown in the corner.

Those in red and black would double their try total for the afternoon, this time, assistant turned try-scorer, Apps finishing off the score as she was quickest to the breakdown to dart round the corner and score.

Loughborough Lightning, however, would respond with pressure of their own, numerous penalty advantages ending in Saracens’ number 6 Julia Omokhuale being sent to the bin for a high shot.

The visitors would capitalise on the extra player just before the break, Lucy Calladine driving over from a lineout to make it a one-score game as both teams headed in for the half-time break, the conversion from Helen Nelson drifting wide, 12-7.

It would be a different tale in the second half with those in purple on the ascendancy, tries from England World Cup winner Sadia Kabeya and then a superb finish from captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones had completed the turnaround for the East Midlands side, 12-15.

However, with fly-half Helen Nelson failing to add the extras, it would be too tight a margin to hold out from.

Last season’s beaten finalists showing why they are in such hot form, Rosie Gilligan breaking the line and getting herself over the whitewash before a much-deserved second try from player of the match Apps, both scores would be converted by Zoe Harrison to wrap up the bonus-point, 26-15.

The visitors had been resilient and strong at the breakdown, but it would come unstuck at the end as the Saracens’ veteran, Marlie Packer, would put the cherry on the cake in a very cold and windy North London, 33-15.

Saracens coming out on top in the battle between 3rd and 4th in the PWR, with the home side leapfrogging Exeter into 2nd.

TRIES: Alysha Corrigan (3’), Olivia Apps (10’, 72’) Rosie Gilligan (68’) Marlie Packer (76’)

CONVERSIONS: Zoe Harrison (10’, 68’, 71’, 76’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 1

RED CARDS: 0

15. Jess Breach 14. Alysha Corrigan 13. Sydney Gregson 12. Beth Blacklock 11. Emma Hardy 10. Zoe Harrison © 9. Olivia Apps 1. Liz Crake 2. May Campbell © 3. Kelsey Clifford 4. Rosie Gilligan 5. Poppy Cleall 6. Julia Omokhuale 7. Marlie Packer 8. Gabrielle Senft

Replacements: 16. Bryony Field 17. Carmen Tremelling 18. Donna Rose 19. Louise McMillan 20. Georgia Evans 21. Tori Sellors 22. Sophie Bridger 23. Jemma-Jo Linkins

TRIES: Lucy Calladine (40’) Sadia Kabeya (48’) Daisy Hibbert-Jones (58’)

CONVERSIONS:

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

15. Lucia Scott 14. Fancy Bermudez 13. Alev Kelter 12. Carmela Morrall 11. Bo Westcombe-Evans 10. Helen Nelson 9. Lis Maude 1. Anne Young 2. Lucy Calladine 3. Mae Sagapolu 4. Lilli Ives Campion 5. Rachel Ehrecke 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones © 7. Sadia Kabeya 8. Haineala Lutui

Replacements: 16. Kathryn Treder 17. Amelia Williams 18. Christine Belisle 19. Becky Boyd 20. Keevy Fitzpatrick 21. Tahlia Brody 22. Megan Davey 23. Lia Green