Lightning came away from their trip to South West London with just the one bonus point following a tough encounter against Trailfinders Women, with the hosts emerging 39-26 victors.
Despite tries from USA Eagles Alev Kelter and Mae Sagapolu, as well as Red Roses Bo Westcombe-Evans and Sadia Kabeya, Lightning weren’t able to get the victory.
First half
The hosts got on the board early through a close-range effort from Abi Burton; however, Lightning responded quickly with a classic Kelter break, stepping past defenders to go over for the score.
The hosts were keeping it tight in possession and had all the momentum, scoring their second try as the ball came out wide to winger Grace White, who dived in at the corner.
They kept up the pressure on the African Violets, putting a kick in behind that Helena Rowland had to take across the whitewash, giving Trailfinders a five-metre scrum from which Burton picked and went for her second score of the afternoon.
But Lightning came firing back, firstly through a tap-and-go penalty from Sagapolu, who crashed over in classic fashion and then on the stroke of halftime, Westcombe Evans went over in the 39th minute to give Lightning the lead at the break
Second half
Trailfinders came back out for the second half, firing on all cylinders, with newly appointed Red Roses captain Meg Jones crossing the whitewash in just two minutes played.
They added another shortly after through replacement scrum half Ella Amory, following a pick from the base of the ruck in the midfield, ripping through the Lightning defence. The hosts added their third for the half through No.8 Burton, burrowing her way over for her Hat trick from close range and then another through replacement Emma Taylor with ten minutes left to play, taking the game out of sight.
But Lightning had the all-important bonus-point try before the final whistle, courtesy of a brilliant solo effort by World Cup winner Kabeya.
Reflecting on the result, Head Coach Nathan Smith said: “Fair play to Trailfinders, they played really well today and fully deserved the win.
“The result is obviously disappointing, but the Lightning players gave it everything and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Line-ups
Trailfinders: 15 Niamh Gallagher, 14 Grace White, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Emma Uren, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Claire Gallagher, 9 Brooke Bradley; 1 Maya Montiel, 2 Georgia Ponsonby, 3 Tanya Kalounivale, 4 Maia Roos, 5 Emma Wassell, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 7 Haidee Head, 8 Abi Burton.
Replacements: 16 Cris Blanco, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Cassandra Tuffnail, 19 Emma Taylor, 20 Sally Williams, 21 Ella Amory, 22 Vicky Laflin, 23 Ellie Boatman.
Lightning: 15 Helen Nelson, 14 Fancy Bermudez, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Carmela Morrall (c), 11 Bo Westcombe-Evans, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lis Maude; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Mae Sagapolu, 4 Lilli Ives Campion, 5 Kaya Acton, 6 Tahlia Brody, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Haineala Lutui.
Replacements:16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Isla Curphey, 18 Christine Belisle, 19 Tamsin Baynes, 20 Kendall Waudby, 21 Meg Davey, 22 Lia Green, 23 Lucia Scott.