Harlequins’ Konkel back with a bang

As England captain and No8 Sarah Hunter’s Loughborough Lightning side fell 43-7 to Harlequins Ladies, a fascinating sub-plot is unfolding in not just the Premier 15s’ battle of the back rows but for the Six Nations.

Quins No 8 Jade Konkel played her first 80 minutes of top-flight club rugby after a shoulder injury ruled her out from the start of the season, and the back row was in imperious form as the London side put in a clinical performance.

Loughborough’s second defeat in three games pushes them back to third, while Quins move up to second behind defending champions

Saracens, who ran riot, 59-0, over

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.

Konkel was not among the scorers of Quins’ seven tries but her overall performance put down a marker to Hunter, who has long been seen as the best at the base of the scrum.

Wasps are fourth after a 34-0 win over Waterloo. Gloucesterhartpury dominated Bristol, coming out as 53-7 winners. Richmond earned a third consecutive win after they beat bottom side Worcester Valkyries 21-15.