Beckett’s score earns maiden win for Firwood
SARAH Beckett helped secure Firwood Waterloo’s first victory in the Tyrrells Premier 15s over northern rivals Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.
The visitors looked good in the first half following a try from Katie Jenkins which helped steer Waterloo into a 8-5 lead but a yellow card to Lauren Delany allowed the Sharks to take the advantage and go in 10-8 ahead at the break.
However Waterloo refused to give in and dominated second half proceedings, not allowing the Sharks to register another point.
And it was in the 63rd minute when Waterloo had their reward as substitute Beckett, who came on at halftime, rumbled over following strong work from the pack to restore their lead.
The Sharks could not contain their visitors though and Beth Stott’s precise penalty sealed the Merseyside club’s 18-10 maiden Premier 15s triumph.
The pair played out a 0-0 draw earlier in the campaign but this result will give Waterloo a much-needed confidence boost.
Saracens got their Premier 15s campaign back on track and stretched their lead at the top of the table following a comprehensive seven-try victory over London rivals
Richmond at Allianz Park. An early penalty try followed by scores from Lotte Clapp, Rosie Galligan, Bryony Cleall, Garnet Mackinder and two from Emma Uren handed Sarries a 41-0 win to cement the north London side at the top of the table.
Sarries stamped their intent on proceedings early on in what would prove to be a good day at the office for the forward pack as they won the first scrum against the head in the first of many turnovers at set piece.
Richmond struggled to contain Sarries up front as the league leaders continued their serge towards the title.
And it was a fine day all round for Sarries as Harlequins slipped to only their second defeat of the campaign against Bristol 13-12.
Bristol rumbled over after just 11 minutes thanks to Clara Nielson as they went in 8-0 ahead at the interval. The hosts continued to dominate proceedings and Nielson went over again to make it 13-0 after 59 minutes.
But Quins battled back and almost snatched a draw as they first went over thanks to good work form Shaunagh Brown.
And a penalty try got the visitors back to within one point with just a minute to play but they couldn’t find a way through as Bristol won their eighth match of the season. Elsewhere, GloucesterHartpury made it three league wins in a row with an emphatic 80-0 victory over Worcester Valkyries.
It was a day when the Gloucester-Hartpury pack laid the platform and the backs made the most of it – wingers Kelly Smith (five) and Ellie Underwood (two) shared seven tries and there was a hat-trick for centre Rachel Lund. And Loughborough Lighting held off a late Wasps fightback to seal a thrilling 26-20 triumph.
Wasps did take the lead before tries from Carys Williams, Katie Trevarthen, Natasha Jones and penalty try steered the hosts into a 26-5 lead.
Three late Wasps tries, through Hannah West, Kany Afilaka and Sarah Mitchelson, threatened a late fightback but it was Lightning who held out for the bonus-point triumph.