Match report: Leicester Tigers Women 19 - 24 Exeter Chiefs Women
Caroline Moore at Mattioli Woods Welford Road
This game was all about recognising a loyal club player’s 100th game and seeing out the season in style. A lone Ebony Jefferies led the team onto the pitch before being joined by her team mates to take on Leicester Tigers Women after a long bus journey north this evening.
Chiefs got the first penalty of the evening which fly-half Liv McGoverne sent to touch for hooker Emily Tuttosi to throw to No 8 Rachel Johnson, playing in her last game for the club. Chiefs were in Tigers' 22 and were patient through the phases until they were awarded another penalty. They took a quick tap this time and it was up to prop Hope Rogers to crash over for the try.
Another lineout was then foundation for Chiefs’ second try. The visitors actually lost the ball in contact, but winger Sabrina Poulin tackled Tigers’ centre Meg Jones to keep the home side in their own 22. The ensuing high ball was caught by winger Katie Buchanan and when the ball crossed to the other side of the pitch, Poulin was ready to speed down the wing, skipping through defenders along the way, to pass inside for lock Dorothy Wall to score. McGoverne converted this try too to make the score 0-14 after 15 minutes gone.
Tigers were not slow in coming forward in getting in on the lineout action too. A drive from a penalty kicked to touch saw Tigers’ captain and lock Roisin McBrien score their first try that was converted by full-back Claire Gallagher.
A yellow card for prop Sophie Benavent should have given Chiefs an opportunity but it was Tigers who scored next when Gallagher spotted a gap following phases of sustained pressure. Her conversation made the score 14-14.
It looked like Chiefs may get one before half-time when a long kick ahead was chased down by Poulin to get the visitors back into Tigers' 22, but despite great passing from the backs, it was a pass too many from Nancy McGillivray and the try opportunity went begging.
Half-time: 14-14
Tigers started the game with better fortune with field position allowing the forwards to retain possession before finding always-dangerous Meg Jones. She did not quite get over the try-line at the first time of asking but made sure of the score the second time. This took the score to 19-14.
Chiefs remained resolute however and it was another lineout and drive that gave them their score equally try. Tuttosi was the force that got the ball down.
Tigers continued to threaten as the half continued but the driving rain did little to encourage running rugby. The women in green had several penalty opportunities, including a kick at goal on the 79th minute to take the lead, but it fell short.
When Chiefs were awarded a penalty in injury time, it was not close enough to go for goal, so they went for touch and a 15-woman maul! Wall was at the bottom of the pile again to snatch a five-point win for Chiefs to end their season on a high.
Full-time: 19-24
Leicester Tigers Women: C Gallagher; E Henrich, M Jones, E Wills, T Feury; N Jones, A Relf (J Maxwell 80); L Bartlett, N Simpson (J Russell 72), S Benavent (N Vincent 72), E Donaldson, R McBrien (c), K Childs, KM Sagapolu Sanele (M Richardson 62), T Brody
Tries: McBrien, Gallagher, M Jones
Cons: Gallagher (2)
Yellow card: Benavent
Exeter Chiefs Women: M Doidge; S Poulin, K Kobayashi, N McGillivray (T Perry 53), K Buchanan; L McGoverne, F Robinson (vc); H Rogers, E Tuttosi, C Jacoby (D Menin 46), P Leith (c), D Wall, E Jefferies (M Allen 53), M Feaunati, R Johnson (E Robinson 56)
Tries: Rogers, Wall (2), Tuttosi
Cons: McGoverne (2)
Referee: A Thomas