Sale Sharks Women slipped to defeat at the Twickenham Stoop against Harlequins in round 14 of the Allianz Premier 15s
A clinical Quins performance proved too much for the Sharks as the hosts claimed bonus point victory in turbulent conditions.
With the wind against them, Sharks conceded three times in a frustrating first-half having made several scoreless visits into Quins 22.
A hard-fought try in the second added to Sharks tally of one earlier penalty, but this was all the visitors could muster, with Quins scoring three more of their own.
It was Sharks who struck first at the Stoop, a rolling attack sparked by Lauren Delany stepping round Quin’s rush defence only halted with the concession of a penalty at the breakdown. Lizzie Duffy slotted the three in front of the posts.
Quins responded with a score through their lineout maul, Rosie Galligan claiming the five. The Quins maul would prove lethal throughout the game, and Shauna Brown scored the host’s second is similar fashion.
A quickly taken tap-and-go from Sarah Beckett caught Sharks napping for Quins third score before the break.
Quins scored first in the second-half, Brown crashing over for her second from a tap-and-pop penalty on Sharks 5m line.
Breakthrough finally came for the Sharks in the 51st minute, Vicky E Irwin the straw that broke the camel’s back as Sharks pummelled Quins’ try-line defence with ruthless pick-and-go.
Quins responded with a searing line-break and some follow-up pick-and-goes of their own that saw Hannah Duffy score off the bench.
Ellie Green kicked excellently for the hosts, claiming every conversion bar Quins’ final try – a looping pass out to Freya Aucken from Green herself, seeing the full-back dash across the line.
Another tough result for the girls who build unrelentingly towards a complete performance.
BOL Foods Player of the Match: Molly Morrissey
TEAMS:
Sale Sharks Women
15. Vicky A Irwin, 14. Lauren Delany, 13. Hollie Bawden, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Lisa Neumann, 10. Lizzie Duffy, 9. Mhairi Grieve (C); 1. Catie Benson, 2. Molly Kelly, 3. Nick James (VC), 4. Nicola Howat, 5. Molly Morrissey, 6. Daisy Hibbert-Jones, 7. Lucy Winter, 8. Vicky E Irwin
Replacements:
16. Joanna Kitlinski, 17. Gwenllian Pyrs, 18. Leah Lyons, 19. Katie Houghton, 20. Marion Ridgway, 21. Jess Roberts, 22. Laura Perrin, 23. Evie Tonkin
Harlequins Women
1 – Tove Viksten
2 – Amy Cokayne (vice-captain)
3 – Shaunagh Brown
4 – Rosie Galligan
5 – Fi Fletcher
6 – Amelia Harper
7 – Bethan Dainton
8 – Sarah Beckett
9 – Lucy Packer
10 – Ellie Green
11 – Izzy Mayhew
12 – Rachael Burford (Captain)
13 – Lagi Tuima
14 – Heather Cowell
15 – Freya Aucken
Impact Players
16 – Davinia Catlin
17 – Hannah Duffy
18 – Chloe Edwards
19 – Rosie Dobson
20 – Georgia Bradley
21 – Polly Roberts
22 – Ella Amory
23 – Jade Mullen
