Amelia Williams’ stoppage-time try secured Loughborough Lightning a bonus point against Saracens in their final home game of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Wearing their bespoke pink kit, sponsored by GRS Group as part of the league-wide Big Pink Weekend, Lightning were the early aggressors as Sadia Kabeya scored twice in the opening 40 minutes – although Saracens went one better to lead by seven points at the break.
After the interval, Saracens flexed their considerable attacking muscle to add seven tries to their tally. But Lightning remained in the fight and took something from the fixture, with Bo Westcombe-Evans and Williams striking in the final ten minutes.
FIRST HALF
Isla Curphey led Lightning out on the occasion of her 50th appearance for the club to cheers of appreciation, and soon afterwards the home supporters were celebrating a score.
From a lineout just outside the 22, a clever play saw Kathryn Treder smash her way upfield. After some patient recycling, Bulou Mataitoga went close before Kabeya drove over from a few metres out. Helen Nelson nudged over the extras.
Saracens levelled the scores when they managed to salvage a ball that had seemingly been turned over, moving it through the hands for Paige Farries to finish close to the right corner flag.
Heads did not dip, and with their next attacking opportunity Lightning knocked on the door, forcing multiple penalty concessions close to the line. After just missing out with their rolling maul, a neat quick tap saw Haineala Lutui run a great dummy line, opening a channel for Kabeya to race through for her second of the match and tenth of a prolific season.
Once more, Saracens nipped back as they made metres on the edge and then lined up the troops for some heavy lifting, with Liz Crake doing just enough to cross the whitewash. Before half-time, they went into the lead for the first time when Julia Omokhuale finished a sweeping move that Lightning had initially scrambled well to thwart. A pair of Zoe Harrison conversions to Nelson’s two saw Lightning trail by seven at the break.
SECOND HALF
Alev Kelter’s outing in the pack came to an end at the break as Kendall Waudby arrived in place of Bulou Mataitoga, with Kelter restored to her usual position in the Lightning midfield.
Saracens showed the class that had secured them a home semi-final long before the international break, as Sydney Gregson twice converted pressure in the attacking 22 into points with a pair of clinical finishes to open a 17-point lead entering the final third of the game.
After the second of those scores, Grace Clifford arrived onto the pitch for her first PWR minutes in two-and-a-half years. Joining her was the player of the match in the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship final for Loughborough University, loosehead prop Williams.
The changes didn’t bring about a swing in momentum, as Saracens pulled further clear approaching the hour mark. Lightning spilled possession near their own 22, Harrison put width on the ball for Farries to go over untouched, then Gregson completed a second-half hat-trick before adding a fourth soon afterwards.
Marlie Packer saw yellow for an angry reaction at a ruck, and Lightning immediately made the numerical advantage count when Westcombe-Evans finished well out wide.
Saracens bounced back with Farries completing her hat-trick with an intercept, and Gregson landing a fifth. But Lightning kept plugging away and, with the clock in the red, Williams caught a lineout overthrow to crash over for the game’s final points.
Lightning conclude their 2025/26 season with a short trip to East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers on Sunday 7 June.
HEAD COACH NATHAN SMITH:
“We played well in the first half and set the tone, then in the second half, we fell below our usual standards. There was some good young players who came on and did well. Keevy [Fitzpatrick] and Kaya [Acton], Amelia Williams getting the bonus point try and Aoibhe Kelly added some real tempo to the ruck. Those girls were part of that BUCS winning team against Brunel, going up against who I believe are the strongest team in the PWR in Saracens.”
LINE UPS:
LIGHTNING: 15 Helena Rowland, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 13 Bulou Mataitoga, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helen Nelson (c), 9 Meg Davey; 1 Isla Curphey, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Becky Boyd, 6 Alev Kelter, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Grace Clifford 19 Keevy Fitzpatrick, 20 Kaya Acton, 21 Kendall Waudby, 22 Aiobhe Kelly, 23 Lucia Scott.
SARACENS: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Sydney Gregson, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 Zoe Harrison (c), 9 Tori Sellors; 1 Liz Crake, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Donna Rose, 4 Julia Omokhuale, 5 Laetitia Royer, 6 Gabrielle Senft, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sophie de Goede.
Replacements: 16 Daisy Fitzgerald, 17 Chloe Flanagan, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Jodie Verghese, 20 Georgia Evans, 21 Amelia MacDougall, 22 Emma Hardy, 23 Beth Blacklock.