Loughborough Lightning ‘fell below their usual standards’, according to head coach Nathan Smith, as they finished their home campaign with a 24-62 loss to Saracens at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Sadia Kabeya’s brace of tries, both converted by Helen Nelson, twice gave the hosts the lead in Sunday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 17 encounter, with the visitors edging ahead at the break courtesy of three converted scores.
But after half-time, Saracens piled on a further 41 points to Lightning’s ten to avenge the defeat they suffered in last season’s corresponding fixture in Northampton.
“We played well in the first half and set the tone; then in the second half, we fell below our usual standards,” said Smith.
Lightning did manage to rescue a bonus point from the contest, as Bo Westcombe-Evans struck with ten minutes remaining before replacement prop Amelia Williams reacted quickest to a lineout overthrow to land her side’s fourth try in second-half stoppage time.
“There were some good young players who came on and did well,” added Smith. “Keevy [Fitzpatrick] and Kaya [Acton], Amelia Williams getting the bonus-point try, and Aoibhe Kelly added some real tempo around 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.
“A lot of the players involved today have played a lot of rugby in the Six Nations. Sadia, Lilli, Nelly, Helena — they have been ever-present. It’s a big ask for them to come back and be fresh and have energy with two games remaining.
Lightning conclude their 2025/26 season with an East Midlands Derby, making the short trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers on Sunday 7 June (kick-off: 3.30pm).
Smith’s final words were not thrown forward to that occasion, but instead to thank the near‑2,000 crowd that came to cinch Stadium for one final time this term – many of them decked out in pink to mark PWR’s Big Pink Weekend in support of Breast Cancer Now.
He said: “I thought the crowd was exceptional. The more we can get crowds like this, the better it will be for Lightning. It was great to look over to the East Stand and see so many pink shirts supporting a worthy charity.”