A Loughborough Lightning side packed with BUCS Super Rugby present and recent past were defeated by an experienced Saracens outfit under the Friday Night Lights at Goldington Road.
Carmela Morrall’s second‑half try proved to be the African Violets’ only points of the JAECOO Next Gen Cup encounter at the home of Bedford Blues, as the reigning League and Cup champions ran in five tries in each half to take maximum points.
FIRST HALF:
Lightning’s first carry was a thunderous one from Haineala Lutui, but Saracens struck first when a loose pass was scooped up and worked from coast to coast for Lotte Sharp to finish down the left wing. Amelia MacDougall added the tricky conversion.
Lightning thought they had a chance to respond when Carmela Morrall intercepted a loose ball, only to be pulled back for offside. Saracens capitalised again, with May Campbell making metres before the backs combined for Ellie Boatman to score in the right corner.
Before ten minutes had elapsed, Saracens had a third try – and Sharp her second – as the visitors maintained a relentless early pace, tapping the penalties that came their way.
Joia Bennett was sent to the sin bin for a head‑on‑head collision with Lightning’s Ella Barnes. With the player advantage, Daisy Hibbert‑Jones and Ellie Tromans combined down the left wing, and Catherine Wells – on her return after two‑and‑a‑half years out – powered to within five metres, only for a ruck offence to halt the attack.
Their missed opportunity was punished by a vastly more experienced Saracens side. Sydney Gregson showed her class with a sharp diagonal burst to the line to secure the bonus point after 25 minutes, and on the stroke of half‑time, Liz Crake bundled over for her side’s fifth try of the evening.
SECOND HALF:
The second period followed a similar pattern, with Lightning showing fleeting moments of promise before Saracens struck again. Sophie Bridger cut a fine angle to score to the left of the posts, and Poppy Cleall rolled over from a maul soon afterwards.
Approaching the hour mark, Lightning enjoyed their best spell of the game, with a series of powerful forward drives taking them within inches of the line. Replacement scrum‑half Ashton Adcock kept her composure to feed inside centre Morrall on a hard line to register Lightning’s first points.
It didn’t spark a revival, however, as Cleall and Campbell rumbled over in quick succession before Boatman and Gregson added their second tries of the match. Lightning now turn their attention to the long trip to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday 10 October.
LINE-UPS:
LIGHTNING: 15. Amy Layzell, 14. Alice Bennett, 13. Izzy Clist, 12. Carmela Morrall, 11. Ellie Tromans, 10. Ella Barnes, 9. Aiobhe Kelly, 1. Amelia Williams, 2. Harli Stanton, 3. Catherine Wells, 4. Kaya Acton, 5. Tamsin Baynes, 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones, 7. Ellie Roberts – captain, 8. Haineala Lutui.
Replacements: 16. Polly Peterson, 17. Churchy Knight, 18. Bayley Jurkowski – Lightning debut #, 19. Sasha Roberts, 20. Sarah Shrestha, 21. Ashton Adcock, 22. Molly Luthayi, 23. Freya MacColl.
SARACENS: 15. Sophie Bridger, 14. Ellie Boatman, 13. Sydney Gregson, 12. Emma Hardy, 11. Lotte Sharp, 10. Amelia MacDougall (vc), 9. Tori Sellors; 1. Liz Crake, 2. May Campbell, 3. Ruby Ross, 4. Louise McMillan (c), 5. Jodie Verghese, 6. Joia Bennett, 7. Morgan Freeman, 8. Poppy Cleall.
Replacements: 16. Charlotte Wright-Haley, 17. Chloe Flanagan, 18. Carmen Tremelling, 19. Jemima Moss, 20. Lucy Lawford-Wilby, 21. Alix Ahad, 22. Erin Delea, 23. Jemma-Jo Linkins.