Harlequins Women 25 Chiefs Women 54
Harlequins Women 25
Exeter Chiefs Women 54
James Fowler at Twickenham
Given the grandest of stages to perform, Exeter Chiefs Women produced another impressive display as they maintained their position at the top of the Allianz Premier 15s table with a comprehensive victory over Harlequins at Twickenham.
Susie Appleby’s side ran in eight tries in total with Kate Zackary and Maisy Allen both crossing in the opening quarter, before Harlequins hit back through a penalty from Bella McKenzie and a try from Lucy Packer.
McKenzie slotted a further penalty to reduce the Chiefs lead to one, only for No.8 Rachel Johnson to restore some control for the Chiefs just before half time.
Down at the break, Red Roses star Abby Dow gave Harlequins the perfect start to the second half as she stormed over for Quins second try of the afternoon, but the Chiefs once again put themselves in control through tries from Ebony Jefferies and Claudia MacDonald.
Harlequins still refused to go quietly with a score from Hannah Sims, but in a dominant conclusion to the game, the Chiefs finished with a canter as first MacDonald dotted down for her second, before Nancy McGillivray and Zackary completed the job.
In what was no doubt an enormous occasion for all the players involved, playing at such an iconic stadium in front of a bumper ‘Big Game’ crowd, you could forgive the Chiefs players for taking a while to find their feet, however Zackary made sure the Chiefs got the ideal start as she punched through a couple of defenders to dot down in just the third minute.
With a hat-trick secured against Loughborough last weekend, it was no surprise that Allen was adding a further try to her season’s tally, and this time it came from another excellently controlled close-range, catch and drive line-out, with the flanker coming up with the ball following some outstanding work by her fellow forwards.
Despite the far from ideal start for the hosts, they did begin to grow into the game, and it wasn’t long before McKenzie had Quins first points on the board as she slotted a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts after Exeter were caught offside.
With the hosts confidence now growing, combined with some unusually sloppy defence from the Chiefs, the Londoners looked to be in total control of the momentum and when scrum-half Packer darted over following a nice build up, there could be no complaints from the Chiefs that it wasn’t fully deserved.
With further errors and defensive lapses, the Chiefs were fortunate not to concede a further try when Harlequins broke through, this time though they were saved by a despairing tackle from Liv McGoverne. Unfortunately, the Kiwi was deemed not to have rolled away from the resulting ruck, and following the infringement, McKenzie slotted her second penalty of the afternoon to reduce the deficit to one.
As half time approached, the Chiefs knew they needed to find a response of sorts. Thankfully, they did just that when, following a brilliant rip in the tackle by Daleaka Menin, Johnson was set free down the left wing - and the American international had the pace to race clear for the Chiefs third.
HALF TIME: HARLEQUINS 13 EXETER CHIEFS 21
If the Harlequins coaches asked their players for a fast start to the second half, the players certainly delivered. Following some indecision in the back-field following a Quins box kick, the home side reacted fastest and when the ball found its way to Dow on the right wing, the England international made no mistake, showing excellent pace and power to go over for Quins second try of the day.
The Chiefs response was almost immediate however, as Jefferies picked a wonderful line through the middle of the pitch to dive in under the sticks and with it give the Chiefs their 12th consecutive bonus point try.
MacDonald soon showed her class to race clear down the right-hand touchline after some excellent carries from the forwards and a well timed pass from full-back Merryn Doidge, which provided the Chiefs with some much needed breathing space.
If the Chiefs thought they had done enough to secure all five points, Harlequins made sure the visitors were fully aware that they were still in this contest, when almost straight from the kick-off following MacDonalds second try, they mounted a strong attack which resulted in Sims barging her way over the line.
The Chiefs made sure that any hopes of an unlikely Harlequins victory were evaporated when MacDonald stormed over for her second in the 68th minute, following some more slick hands from the Exeter Backs.
McGillivray came off the bench and made an immediate impact as the player who has only this week been called up to the England Six Nations Squad, picked a wonderful line before showcasing her power to dive over with remarkably her first touch of the game.
With the Quins players now seemingly unable to match the pace and intensity of the Chiefs, Zackary took full advantage as the American captain burst through several would be defenders, before displaying her much under-rated pace to race clear for her second, and with it put 50 on board for the Chiefs, much to the delight of the heavy contingent of travelling supporters.
McGoverne was exceptional from the tee once again, slotting seven out of her eight conversion attempts, and again showing why she is so highly rated by both coaches and fans alike.
Harlequins: F Aucken; A Dow, L Tuima, B McKenzie (B Blacklock 58), L Torley (B Wilcock 55); E Scott (cc) (R Dobson 71), L Packer (E Swords 53); H Sims (S Cooper 71), 2. Amy Cokayne (cc), C Edwards (B Latsha 53); K Leaney, S Bonar (R Galligan 10); L Brooks, E Robinson, K Mew (E Chancellor, 58).
Tries – Packer, Dow, Sims; Conversions – McKenzie, Tuima; Penalties – McKenzie (2)
Chiefs: M Doidge; E Sinclair (L Cramer 69) K Zackary, G Cantorna (N McGillivray 72), C MacDonald; L McGoverne, F Robinson (B Bradley 74); H Rogers (S Turani 74), C Moloney (E Tuttosi 44), D Menin (C Jacoby 74); N Fryday (L Van Der Velden 69), P Leitch (capt); E McMahon (E Jefferies 1), M Allen, R Johnson.
Tries – Zackary (2), Allen, Johnson, Jefferies, MacDonald (2), McGillivray; Conversions – McGoverne (7)
Referee: D Jones