Lightning’s unbeaten run ended by Quins

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning’s 100 per cent record in the Allianz Premier 15s was brought to an end by Harlequins Women.

The visitors won 33-24 after their pack stamped their authority on the game from the outset, with Shaunagh Brown and Amy Cokayne powering over early on.

Lightning responded after a slick run from Helena Rowland freed up Rhona Lloyd, who flew over in the corner, but the Quins juggernaut was proving too powerful to stop.

Brown scored a second with a sniping try from the 22, before Fiona Fletcher muscled her way over to secure the bonus-point on 38 minutes.

Cokayne then extended her tally from a rolling maul, but Lightning struck back on the hour mark, as Rhona Lloyd went over for her second, and then again through Emily Scarratt.

With the clock in the red and the hosts on the hunt for a four-try bonus point, Lightning worked the ball out wide to Abbie Brown, who offloaded to Scarratt and the Women’s Six Nations Player of the Tournament sprinted over to secure a bonus point for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Wasps FC Ladies thrashed bottom-of-the-table Durham Sharks 105-0 in their round four match.

Ellie Boatman scored a first half hat-trick and Claudia Macdonald ran in four tries in the rout at Twyford Avenue.

Defending champions Saracens beat Gloucester-Hartpury 43-5 and trail on points difference to Quins, with Loughborough five points behind in third place.

Exeter Chiefs registered their first victory of the season, beating Worcester Warriors 19-7.