Two wins on the spin as Lightning tough it out

Bristol ................ 8 L’boro L’ning ..12

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning secured back-to-back wins with a hard-fought victory over Bristol at Cleve Rugby Club in Saturday’s late kick-off.

The triumph moves the Lightning up to fifth in the league table, above Richmond, and four points ahead of their hosts.

Lightning, who had beaten Richmond 27-15 last weekend, brought Emma Hardy into their starting line-up after her try in that previous fixture.

Jenny Maxwell, Sarah Bonar and Mags Lowish also returned from international duty with Scotland.

Bristol made a single change from their 29-12 defeat to Saracens, with Daisie Mayes replacing Claire Molloy at blindside flanker.

The Lightning led early on thanks to a converted try with inside centre Amber Reeds’ penalty reducing the deficit on a wet evening.

Replacement prop Ellie Mulhearn managed Bristol’s only try of the evening with a short-range pick and go as the home side moved into a one-point lead.

But Lightning dotted down for the match-winning try soon after with Bristol having to settle for a losing bonus point.

After winning three in a row, Bristol have now gone without a win since Round 4 and have slipped well down the Tyrrells Premier 15s table.

The league takes a twoweek break for the autumn internationals with Loughborough then travelling to fourth-placed Gloucester-Hartpury in Round 9.

Bristol meanwhile will be looking to re-group before travelling to Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.