Try-happy Davies leads Lightning charge

ENGLAND hooker Lark Davies powered over for a try double to help Loughborough Lightning to victory in a fast and furious encounter at the Alpas Arena.

The hosts took a mere 45 seconds to go in front when flanker Georgia Brock charged down Emily Scarratt’s clearance kick and regathered to set up Shya Pinnock for the score.

A high tackle by Gloucester centre Rachel Lund on Helena Rowland then gave the visitors a platform to attack. A kick to the corner set up the lineout from which Davies crashed over.

Gloucester responded as the match neared the halfhour mark when jumper Pinnock was hauled down dangerously at a lineout.

Fly-half Ceri Large kicked to the corner as her pack sought their second try from a driving maul but Lightning buckled under the pressure and conceded a penalty try, with Courtney Holtkam shown a yellow card.

Just as Gloucester had done in the first half, Lightning flew out the blocks to start the second period and were deep into Gloucester territory when prop Kathryn Buggy was pinged for not rolling away.

Rowland’s kick to the corner led to a lineout from which Katie Trevarthen peeled off from the maul to score.

Additional tries for Rhona Lloyd, Davies – her eleventh of the season – and Holtkamp ensured the bonus point and put the match beyond Gloucester by the time Bryonie King scored a consolation try in injury time.