Match report: Gloucester-Hartpury 33-36 Exeter Chiefs Women
Wet conditions did not make life easy for Exeter Chiefs Women at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium today but both teams settled into the task with the visiting side coming out on top of Gloucester-Hartpury by a slender three points.
The first five minutes were played in Gloucester-Hartpury’s half with two Chiefs’ lineout throws executed cleanly by hooker Kayleigh Priest. Her third found flanker Zoe Dare with the ball going through the hands to edge closer to Gloucester-Hartpury’s 22. A penalty helped Chiefs’ cause, but the lineout was successfully marked by the home team.
The next lineout was more productive even if the ball did bounce from Dare’s hands into Priest’s. Prop Alessia Skeates caught a high ball with flanker Maisy Allen sucking in defenders to release fly-half Liv McGoverne at speed over the line in the 12th minute.
The Chiefs lineout began to wobble a little and gave Gloucester-Hartpury possession, but the home side still failed to gain any territory. Continued pressure in the Gloucester-Hartpury half saw Chiefs’ forwards take the reins and send prop Alessia Skeates over for her first try for the club. The conversion came off the posts.
Winger Katie Buchanan, back from a shoulder injury, took the third try with a swift run down the wing.
Running was not confined to the backs, however. Allen had enjoyed some fine gallops on the paddock at her former college and with 10 minutes to go in the first half, she looked for support as she flew into space but decided to go over the line on her own. No 8 Gabriella Nigrelli attempted the conversion while McGoverne received treatment on the ground.
The first try for Gloucester-Hartpury came in the 35th minute after a lineout that marked the home side’s first visit to Chiefs’ 22. Ellie Wilson rumbled over for the score with Ellie Green taking the extras.
Half-time: 7-24
McGoverne opened Chiefs’ second half account with a 50:22 kick to get straight into Gloucester-Hartpury’s 22. The second lineout went to Linde van der Velden before going through the hands to Danielle Preece on the wing for a try in the 45th minute.
A penalty just in front of Chiefs’ try-line gave the home side precious territory and they did not waste it. The lineout became a maul before full-back Lizzie Gouden went over on the wing.
Their next try came from the same spot and same move. This time winger Mia Venner took the spoils.
Chiefs rallied with a pressing run from centre Sophie Langford and some hard yards from lock van der Velden followed up with some slick hands and out-the-back passing from Merryn Elworthy to push Gloucester-Hartpury back into their 22 and for prop Demi Swann to go over for her first try for the club with McGoverne taking the conversion.
Lock Steph Else closed the gap again with a try from close range in the 69th minute before head coach Steve Salvin started bringing on replacements to gain some fresh legs. Charlotte Heath came on for her Chiefs debut at scrum-half with Flo Robinson moving to fly-half.
Centre Naomi Brennan was shown a yellow card for pulling a player back, giving Gloucester-Hartpury a penalty to kick to their favourite lineout corner. The drive was good and replacement hooker Amy Dale scored, bringing the score-line to within three points.
It looked like a lineout in Chiefs’ 22 would give Gloucester-Hartpury the platform they needed too win the game but winger Sammie Harris brought Venner down on the touchline in the nick of time. Chiefs forced the penalty and kicked the ball off the field to secure a narrow win.
Full-time: 33-36
Gloucester-Hartpury starting XV: L Goulden: A Pritchard, R Lund (cc), M Bunker, M Venner; E Green, B Blackburn; E Bradley, L Simpson, B Lewis, J Aiono, S Else (cc), E Wilson, G Brock, T Copson
Tries: Wilson, Goulden, Venner, Else, Dale
Cons: Green (4)
Exeter Chiefs Women: M Elworthy; D Preece, H Bluck (S Langford 56), N Brennan, K Buchanan (S Harris HT); L McGoverne (C Heath 70), F Robinson (vc); A Skeates (L Ward 53), K Priest (S Bekir Fuente 53), D Swann (H Sams 62), L van der Velden (L Whitley 62), E Robinson (c), Z Dare (T Bricknell 49), M Allen (vc), G Nigrelli (Z Dare 70)
Tries: McGoverne, Skeates, Buchanan, Allen, Preece, Swann
Cons: McGoverne (3)
Yellow card: Brennan
Referee: Charlie Gayther