Tries from Sadia Kabeya, Lucy Calladine, a brace from Alev Kelter, and a dramatic late effort from Meg Davey saw Loughborough Lightning and Exeter Chiefs share the spoils in front of almost 1,500 people at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
It was World Cup winner Kabeya who got Lightning’s first try of the match just short of the ten-minute mark, but Chiefs came back quickly through a try from DaLeaka Menin. Kelter took the lead back for Lightning, but eventually Chiefs levelled the score heading into the break after a close-range effort from Maisy Allen.
An early score in the second period from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald gave Chiefs the lead, followed quickly by Emily Robinson adding another shortly after, but Lightning’s bench brought a tempo that allowed Kelter to score her second in brilliant fashion
A rolling maul sent Calladine over for Loughborough through a titanic effort, but Chiefs responded with another from Menin. However, eventually it was Davey who sneaked over and Helen Nelson nervelessly converted to secure the draw for Lightning.
First Half:
Lightning struck first on the scoreboard just short of the ten-minute mark, courtesy of Kabeya crashing over from close range on her side’s first entry to the opposition 22 and came away with the full seven points.
Exeter responded through tighthead Menin in a similar fashion from short-range following a break down the wing by Francesca Granzotto.
Lightning were showing exciting flashes in their attacking sets with the offload game working brilliantly, and it was classic Kelter who went over for Loughborough’s second with a brilliant running line off the shoulder of scrum-half Lis Maude and left the defenders for dust.
The Chiefs had a handful of opportunities inside the Lightning 22 to level the score, and hard graft from the Lightning defence initially denied them the points, but eventually Exeter had their prize as Allen crashed over, leaving the score level at the break.
Second Half:
Exeter came out for the second period and took the opening points of the half after a loose ball allowed winger Moloney-MacDonald to pick up and finish to give Chiefs the lead for the first time in the game, followed shortly after by captain Robinson dotting down as well.
Lightning brought on a host of changes from the bench and brought with them an increased tempo, which led to Kelter’s second try of the game and closed the gap for Lightning.
All of the momentum was with the home side, who were determined to wrestle back control on the scoreboard, and a powerful rolling maul sent Calladine rumbling over the whitewash, but Chiefs hit back through Menin once again.
It was a dramatic final try from Davey and a calm conversion from Nelson that secured the late draw that delivered a game for the ages in Round 3 of the PWR.
Head Coach Nathan Smith:
“It was one that got away from us a little bit. We showed some good stuff in the first half, but got off to a poor start in the second. I am really happy how we wrestled momentum back. There was some really strong performances. I thought Mae [Sagapolu] carried exceptionally well, and Lucy Calladine and the replacements all had a big impact and added to the game.”
Line-Ups:
Lightning: 15 Green, 14 Mataitoga,13 Kelter, 12 Morrall, 11 Westcombe-Evans, 10 Nelson, 9 Maude; 1 Young, 2 Treder, 3 Sagapolu, 4 Ives Campion, 5 Lutui, 6 Brody, 7 Kabeya, 8Hibbert-Jones ©.
Replacements: 16 Calladine, 17 Curphey, 18 Belisle, 19 Boyd, 20 Ehrecke, 21 Waudby, 22 Davey, 23 Bermudez.
Chiefs: 15 Elworthy, 14 Granzotto, 13 McGillivray, 12 Tessier, 11 Moloney-MacDonald, 10 McGoverne, 9 Robinson; 1 Swann, 2 Moloney-MacDonald, 3 Menin, 4 van der Velden, 5 Duguid, 6 Robinson (c), 7 Allen, 8 Feaunati.
Replacements: 16 Tuttosi, 17 Skeates, 18 Middlebrooke, 19 Nigrelli, 20 Whitley, 21 Nye, 22 Brennan, 23 Buchanan.