Ugiagbe sparks the Lightning to victory
Loughborough ..43pts Glouc-Hartpury ..33pts
PROP Ofure Ugiagbe scored twice as Loughborough Lightning ran in seven tries on their way to a 43-33 win over Gloucester Hart purytod raw level on points with the south-west side.
Sarah Hunter, Rachel Malcom, Lizzie Adam and Natasha Jones all went over for the hosts but they were pegged back in the second half as Gloucester scored five tries of their own.
Rachel Lund went over twice with Bethan Jones, Ceri Large and Ffion Lewis ensure Gloucester Hart p ur yd idn’ t leave empty-handed.
A penalty try in the final minute eventually secured the full five points for the Lightning, who now have five wins and four losses from their nine matches. Gloucester-Hartpury do remain above them in fourth, but on points difference only.
England captain Hunter, back in the team after the Red Roses’ 3-0 series win over Canada, marked her return with a score after just four minutes to put the Lightning 7-0 ahead. But Lund brought the scores level just seven minutes later after making an excellent break through the home side defence.
Some superb footwork from flanker Malcolm then saw her burst through some soft Gloucester tackles on 20 minutes to regain the lead for Lightning at 12-7. And just prior to the half-hour, Adam extended the lead with Ugiagbe getting the try bonus point minutes later with her first of the afternoon.
Jones put the Lightning in firm control in the East Midlands with their fifth score of the first half as the hosts led 31-7 at the break.
Winger Jones reduced the deficit before a stunning try, made by a 50m dash from the kick-off from Ellie Kildunne, who made her England debut last month, saw Lund dot down for her second.
With just ten points between the teams, it was Ugiagbe who again came up trumps for Lightning stretching their lead to 36-21 just after the hour.
But Large touched down on the right touchline before replacement Lewis brought Gloucester to within three points with nine minutes left to play.
A penalty try eventually sealed the win, Loughborough’s third in a row in the Premier 15s competition after success against Richmond and Bristol.