Crunch-tackling Katoh sets the defensive tone

Loughboro’ L ..14 Exeter Chiefs ..7

LOUGHBOROUGH edged past a determined Exeter Chiefs in a physical and highly engrossing game at Loughbor- ough University.

In a game where defence subdued attack, both teams struggled to make early inroads into the others’ 22, as a combination of setpiece errors and ferocious defensive pressure starved both backlines of any real opportunity with ball in hand.

Chiefs had several chances close to the Lightning tryline but on two of the most clear-cut occasions, their lineout went awry.

Exeter were relentless in their defensive pressure though and their desire to win the ball back was epitomised by Japanese prop Sachiko Katoh who put in a player of the match performance with a series of crunching hits.

The Chiefs were first to pounce on 24 minutes when, after winning a penalty just inside the Lightning 22, scrum-half Patricia Garcia was hauled down inches short of the line. From the next phase, McKinley Hunt crashed over, Gabby Cantorna converting.

Loughborough responded towards the end of the half as they pounced on a Chiefs mistake in midfield, intercepting and working the ball to Rhona Lloyd, who burst clear to score.

With the scores level at the break, a series of Exeter penalties gifted Loughborough territory. And after several phases,

England hooker Lark Davies bundled her way over, Emily Scarratt’s touchline conversion opening up a 14-7 lead.

With the clock in the red, Exeter looked to play the ball from deep but spilled it instead, signalling the end of the match with a losing bonus point from their trip as the hosts took four points from a tough encounter.