Saracens stay unbeaten by thrashing Sale, Gloucester-Hartpury continue winning streak

Saracens continued their unbeaten start to the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with a comprehensive 69-3 victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday.

Alex Austerberry’s side have now won their opening six matches in the revamped top division of women’s rugby, while Sale were condemned to a fourth defeat of the season.

Akina Gondwe opened the scoring on 14 minutes before Paige Farries followed her over five minutes later as the visitors threatened to open the floodgates, but that was not before Victoria Irwin kicked over the hosts’ only points of the afternoon with an 18th-minute penalty.

Marlie Packer dotted down a brace within 10 minutes – the second on the stroke of half-time – before Poppy Cleall added another score inside the first minute of the second period.

Jessica Breach and Leanne Infante added quick-fire tries within two minutes of each other to compound Sharks’ misery.

Farries had her second just after the hour and McKinley Hunt followed her in three minutes later.

Farries, the Canadian winger, had her hat-trick not long after, and her compatriot Sophie de Goede, who had kicked so accurately all game, added her name to the list of try scorers with six minutes to play.

Gloucester-Hartpury continue winning run

Gloucester-Hartpury maintained their winning streak as they overcame Loughborough Lightning 42-24 at the Hartpury University Stadium.

Catherine O’Donnell stunned the home side with an early fourth-minute score, but a flurry of tries from Emma Sing, Kelsey Jones and Hannah Jones had the hosts in front.

O’Donnell scored her second try six minutes from half-time, but Samantha Monaghan restored Gloucester’s three-try lead with a minute to play of the first period.

Georgia Brock added a fifth try early in the second-half and Joan Jones grabbed her second score of the afternoon on 71 minutes.

Kathryn Treder and Bo Westcombe-Evans both crossed the line to keep the contest interesting, but Sean Lynn’s side’s lead was too much of a mountain to climb for Lightning, who slipped to a fourth defeat of the campaign.

Harlequins beat Leicester in bottom of the table clash

Harlequins picked up their second win of the season, beating Leicester Tigers 33-24 in a thrilling contest at Welford Road.

Quins moved ahead when Flo Robinson touched down in the eighth minute and were never behind but the Tigers launched a late comeback to set up a tense finale.

The visitors led 19-7 at the break thanks to further tries from Kaitlan Leaney and Ellie Kildunne, which flanked a Meg Jones converted score for Leicester.

Bryony Cleall’s converted try in the 50th minute put Quins 14 points ahead but Tahlia Brody and Francesca McGhie scored for the hosts to make it 26-24 with a quarter of the game remaining.

But Harlequins wouldn’t be denied and secured the bonus-point victory when Leaney powered over for her second with two minutes left on the clock.

Defeat leaves Leicester winless and rooted to the bottom of the PWR table, while Quins move above Sale Sharks and Loughborough Lightning into sixth.

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