Top tackler Maisy ready for Galentine’s clash

You could forgive Maisy Allen, and the rest of last weekend’s match-day squad, for being a little weary after their draw against Harlequins. Nearly 300 tackles is a lot!

The league’s top tackler this season, Allen contributed to the 295 tackles made along with the six other Chiefs Women who featured in the league-wide top 10 tacklers for the PWR’s round 10.

Here are the top tackler statistics:

1 Maddie Feaunati - 32
2 Linde van der Velden – 30
3 Dorothy Wall – 29
4 Maisy Allen – 28
6 Emily Robinson – 23
8 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald -21
9 Hope Rogers – 20

And Moloney-MacDonald and Rogers were only on the field for a half!

Allen said: “It's crazy, isn't it? I think if you watched the game, you would understand why we made so many tackles: seven extra minutes of play, Quins absolutely hammering us in our 22, and, ultimately, they did get over and score after three yellow cards. But, you know, those tackle stats come from belief and desire in each other, not from anything else. When you don't want a team to score and you want to come away with five points instead of three, that's what you do, even if it works or not.”

Last weekend’s draw, the third away draw of the season, definitely hurt, but the group charge down on the final conversion that could have given Quins the win was another sign of the cohesion this group of players has created.

“I think Katie and Flo look like they're on hobby horses, like galloping up, and I think Tess throws a fist. I'm literally running with my hands together, like looking up to the sky, praying. Honestly, that is a hilarious moment. But I think that's you can see everybody's reactions, how thankful we were because the feeling of going from a win to a draw is something, but also going from a draw to a loss is another thing. As much as we try not to get on that emotional rollercoaster, it does affect you.”

This weekend, Chiefs face Loughborough Lightning, who they drew against back in round three, but are looking for a home win this time round.

“Oh, please, no more draws ever! We've done our draws for the season, for the next five seasons, I think. The result up there last time was a similar result to Quins. We were 14 points up at Quins and we were 12 points up at Loughborough in round three. Nobody wants to let a game get away from you, and that's what we've been doing, so it's about closing out the last half and finishing on our terms.”

Allen will lead the team this weekend in the absence injury Emily Robinson. For Allen, it will generally be business as usual having served as vice-captain, along with Flo Robinson, for this season so far.

“Robbo's so good in creating a cohesive environment. She always asks for input from myself and Flo and the rest of the leadership team. So, you know, there's sort of no difference.”

Sunday’s game has a Galentine’s theme, inviting women and girls to bring their friends, sisters and teammates to celebrate this the weekend for romantics by watching a game of rugby.

Allen said: “Oh, Galentine’s is great. You get together with your pals and have a good day, if you don't get the luxury of having a Valentine's. We just put a name on it because we spend all our time together either way, but it's nice to have a day for it, isn't it?”

Sunday’s game kicks off at 13:00 at Sandy Park with tickets starting at just £1. Please follow this link to purchase your tickets.