Only late, late heartbreak denied Loughborough Lightning from becoming the first team in 23 attempts to inflict a Premiership Women’s Rugby defeat upon defending champions, Gloucester-Hartpury.
Tries from the Red Roses trio of Sadia Kabeya, Lilli Ives Campion and Bo Westcombe-Evans – plus a hat-trick of successful conversions from another player in England’s Six Nations squad, Helena Rowland – gave Lightning a much-deserved 21-12 lead at the break.
Fancy Bermudez and Carmela Morrall tries raised hopes of bloodying Gloucester-Hartpury’s nose with a league loss for the first time since November 2024.
But 24 unanswered points appeared to swing the contest back in the Cherry-and-Whites’ favour, only for Alev Kelter’s late try to evoke wild scenes of celebration at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
However, there was to be one last cruel twist as Tatyana Heard’s 78th minute settled a thrilling Round 15 contest.
FIRST HALF
After a kick was charged down on the edge of their own 22 in the first minute, Gloucester-Hartpury pounced like champions do and worked the ball wide for Mia Venner to race into the right corner.
There was no sign of shellshock for the hosts as Alev Kelter pounced on a breakdown to earn a trademark penalty and Rowland punched the ball deep into enemy territory. The initial drive was thwarted, then Christine Belisle was ruled held up over the goal line. Soon afterwards, a flowing move ended when the final exchange between Kelter and Hibbert-Jones on the edge just failed to stick.
Just as they did in the early exchanges, the unbeaten PWR table-toppers showed their ruthless edge given a sniff of an opportunity. Mo Hunt’s 50:22 provided field position and, after some holes were punched up front, Venner pulled in a long pass and popped to Lizzie Goulden to finish, with Lleucu George adding the extras.
Then came the response, as Lightning struck twice in the space of eight minutes. After forward pressure had been applied, Morrall almost wrestled her way over, but there was no stopping Kabeya upon the recycle.
For all their endeavour in the backs, it was the forwards who were turning the screw and it was another Red Rose who landed the next scoring blow as Ives Campion forced her way over beneath a mound of bodies close to the line.
Gloucester-Hartpury received two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes as Venner walked for a push then Goulden was cautioned for a deliberate knock-on.
The former was back on the pitch by the time Lightning stretched their lead before the break as Westcombe-Evans set off on a weaving, mesmeric run to the line to celebrate her England recall in clinical fashion.
Rowland’s conversion from out wide stretched the lead to nine points come the half-time whistle.
SECOND HALF
Whatever the first half could do, the second period could do better as Lightning landed their try-scoring bonus point direct from the kick-off as Bermudez pounced on a spill to race over untouched.
Dreams were well and truly alive of an historic win when, just three minutes later, Morrall toed a ball ahead and then gathered athletically to ground and put her side 19 points clear.
Gloucester-Hartpury did what champions do and fought their way back as Venner crossed for her second, Hannah Dallavalle breezed over and El Perry capitalised on an error to level up the scores in a 19-minute period.
Venner then completed her hat-trick to give her side the lead, as home hopes of victory appeared dashed, especially when captain Hibbert-Jones limped off with six minutes remaining and the bench already emptied.
Yet somehow, Lightning found a way. Ives Campion reeled in a Rowland cross-field kick and field position was gained. Bodies were strewn across the pitch, but the spirit and belief remained strong. That approach was embodied by Kelter who used a quarterback sneak to poach a try from inches out that, with Rowland’s extras, gave Lightning the lead with two minutes remaining.
But Gloucester-Hartpury would have the final say. Venner’s weaving run deep into the 22 was ultimately finished off by Heard in the right corner.
George converted from the touchline then her forwards kept hold of the kick-off to close out the game, as Lightning were left with the consolation of two bonus points from a thrilling encounter.
HEAD COACH NATHAN SMITH:
“It was a great game of rugby. Two teams playing rugby in the right manner, in the right conditions. I am extremely proud of the girls for the performance we’ve put out there, but slightly disappointed that we've not managed to get the five points.”
LINE UPS:
LIGHTNING: 15 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Carmela Morrall, 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lis Maude; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Rachel Ehrecke, 6 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (c), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Mae Sagapolu 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Kendall Waudby, 21 Tahlia Brody, 22 Meg Davey, 23 Helen Nelson.
GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY: 15 Lizzie Goulden, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Hannah Dallavalle, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Rachel Lund, 10 Lleucu George, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Ranni Samuda, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Sam Monaghan, 5 Steph Else, 6 Bethan Lewis, 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Alex Matthews.
Replacements: 16 Lucy Simpson, 17 El Perry, 18 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19 Sarah Beckett, 20 Kate Williams, 21 Tabitha Copson, 22 Ellie Green, 23 Molly Bunker.