Saracens see off Aylesford to heap pressure on the leaders
SARACENS remain on course for the Premiership semifinals after a four-try win over Aylesford at the Surrey Sports Ground yesterday.
The 2015 champions sit in the fourth and last qualifying place, but have one game in hand after their match against Wasps last week was postponed.
With three games left to play, Sarries have their fate in their hands and the outstanding Charlotte Barras was pleased with her side’s effort.
“We dominated territory and capitalised on their mistakes,” she said. “We created our own opportunities for what was a full team performance.”
Sarries found themselves trailing 5-3 after Chloe Edwards went over for the Bulls to answer an early penalty from Zoe Harrison.
But a second penalty from the fly-half and a try from No.8 Bryony Cleall, who crashed over from close range, had the North Londoners lead 11-5 at the break.
Harrison extended the lead early on with another penalty before French winger Seraphine Okemba brought the score to 21-5.
But Ayslesford started to get momentum back and came to within two points after Edwards and Jess Wooden got over the line.
But that was as good as it got for the Harlequinsa ffiliated outfit, as Sarries pulled away with two tries in the last 20 minutes.
Garnet Mackinder and Emily Scott were the try scorers as Aylesford were left to rue their indiscipline.
“Saracens, are a team who will always surprise you when you least expect it,” said Aylesford head of female rugby Michele Mayhew. “We have work-ons from this weekend which we will address and go to Wasps next weekend hoping to maintain our third place in the Premiership.” Meanwhile, Worcester have kept the pressure on both Saracens and Aylesford with a ten-try 60-19 demolition of Wasps.
Rachel Lund was the pick of the bunch with her three first half tries while Sam Bree, Bianca Blackburn and Zoe Bennion all got one to make it 38-0 at the break.
Wasps managed to get on the board in the second half with three tries from Abigail Dow, Hannah Edwards and Sarah Mitchelson, but Worcester helped themselves to four more through Lisa Campbell, Lydia Thompson, Ceri Large and Bree.