Chiefs Women 29 Saracens Women 19
Exeter Chiefs Women 29
Saracens Women 19
James Fowler at Sandy Park
The Exeter Chiefs made sure it was Devon delight at a raucous Sandy Park, as they retained their Allianz Cup title with a pulsating victory over rivals Saracens.
The only difference between the two sides in an extremely tight and tense first half was a Liv McGoverne penalty right at the end of the half, after two tries apiece had been traded between the two sides, with Sharifa Kosolo and Sophie Tansley crossing for the Londoners, and Cliodhna Moloney and Linde Van Der Velden providing the five pointers for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs, though, produced a strong second half performance to make sure the Cup remained in the Westcountry, with Moloney going over for her second and Panashe Muzambe powering her way over for the Chiefs fourth.
Saracens managed a late consolation try through Kelsey Clifford, however it wasn’t to be enough for the North London club.
Despite having home advantage and an extraordinarily passionate home crowd behind them, it was the visitors who settled the quicker, with some strong work by the impressive Saracens back-row really making life difficult for the Chiefs at the breakdown.
Life was made more difficult for Exeter when Lizzie Hanlon was sent to the sin bin in just the seventh minute for a cynical tackle on Saracens scrum-half Leanne Infante, when the England international was trying to take a quick tap penalty ten metres out from the Chiefs line. Saracens made sure they took full advantage of their numerical advantage when after concerted pressure on the Chiefs line, impressive No.8 Kasolo was able to barge her way over for the opening score of the afternoon.
Roared on by the incredible home support, the Chiefs were eventually able to find their rhythm and it was no surprise that the opening try for Exeter came from their mightily impressive catch and drive line-out, Moloney controlling the ball perfectly at the back to cross over for the Chiefs, as she has done so many times this season.
You could see the confidence now seemingly flowing, Exeter didn’t take long to hit the lead, with Dutch international Van Der Velden using her enormous physical presence to crash over for the home side following an attacking five-metre scrum.
With the crowd in full voice, there was an expectation that the Chiefs would simply just run away with the game, however Saracens are a champion side for a reason, and they hit back through their lock forward Tansley, as she wriggled her way over again from close range. The conversion from fly-half Flo Williams put the visitors level and left the Cup final on an absolute knife edge.
With the clock ticking towards half time, an enormous scrum from the Chiefs young props Abby Middlebrooke and Hanlon against their more experienced opponents gave the Chiefs a penalty straight in front of the posts, and McGoverne made no mistake from the tee.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS 17 SARACENS 14
With a trophy on the line it was no surprise that there was an edginess around both sides play at the beginning of the second half, however the Chiefs slowly began to dominate possession and territory and this was eventually rewarded in the 60th minute with Moloney crashing over for her second after strong concerted pressure on the Saracens line.
With Saracens now needing at least two scores to go in front, they started to try and open up their game, however some strong defence from the Chiefs as well as some big impact from the bench, with American Prop Charli Jacoby proving to be particularly influential, the Chiefs were able to ride out the storm with their 10 point lead still intact.
It would be replacement prop Muzambe who would make sure the trophy was secured, when the Zimbabwean born player produced a bulldozing run before firing over the line, to put the Chiefs out of sight with just four minutes to play.
Saracens did though make sure they have the final say, with Clifford going over from close range after some more strong carrying from the Saracens forward pack.
There was to be no doubt however that the day belonged to the Chiefs, with the young side producing the goods in front of their loyal home support and showing again what a great future women’s rugby has in this part of the world.
Exeter Chiefs: B Bradley; K Buchanan (C Woodman 60), D Preece (S Langford 34), N McGillivray, L Sheehan (P Muzambe 69), L McGoverne, F Robinson; A Middlebrooke (M Roberts 56), C Moloney, L Hanlon (C Jacoby 47), P Leitch (capt), L Van Der Velden (N Orchard 66); E Jefferies, M Allen, G Senft. Replacements (not used): G Grimes, K Hayes,
Yellow Cards: Hanlon, Roberts
Tries – Moloney (2), Van Der Velden, Muzambe; Conversions – McGoverne (3); Penalty - McGoverne
Saracens: I Alejandro; L Biggs, S Gregson, C Wardle (K Johnson 72), L Clapp (cc), F Williams, L Infante; M Montiel (M Gooding 70), M Campbell A Ellis (K Clifford 47); F McIntosh (cc), S Tansley (S Bebbington 54); S Green, C Jacobs, S Kasolo. Replacements (not used): M Evans; C Flanagan, A Goddard, K Exley
Tries – Kasolo, Tansley, Clifford; Conversions – Williams (2)
Referee: A Thomas
Attendance: 2,734