VS WORCESTER WARRIORS
ALLIANZ PREMIER 15s
SAT 27 MAY 2023
KO 14:00
ESTABLISHED 2017 WHERE HISTORY BEGINS FREE
17
Welcome back to Epinal Way, Loughborough University for the return of the Allianz Premier 15s to campus for the first time since January.
As we head into the last 2 games of the Premier 15s season, there is not much to choose between the two sides on show today. Six points separate us and University of Worcester Warriors in the league with today’s visitors sat in 6th place in the league and Lightning in 8th.
These fixtures are historically close encounters, with Warriors being victorious on the last few occasions, including earlier in the season with a 28-19 victory over us in the league encounter in January. However, being back on the crumb at Epinal Way provides us with an exciting opportunity to showcase our expansive style of play.
It is an exciting opportunity for many of our Six Nations stars to represent Lightning at Epinal Way for the first time since the conclusion of the tournament. With a number of English, Scottish and Welsh internationals on display, including 3 of the Red Roses Grand Slam winning side on display.
At the recent RPA Awards, many Lightning players received fantastic accolades. Sadia Kabeya was awarded with England Player of the year, Emily Scarratt was given a Special Merit Award, Abigail Burton received the Blyth Spirit Award and Sarah Hunter was inducted into the Hall of Fame following her retirement from rugby earlier this season. This is also Sarah’s last Lightning game at Epinal Way before she leaves to join the newly announced Red Roses coaching set up. We wish Sarah all the best in her exciting new role and want to say thank you to her for everything she has done for Lightning and rugby at Loughborough. Good luck to all today and have a great day!
Rhys Edwards, Director of Rugby
MEET THE TEAM
NATIONALITY: BRITISH INTERESTING FACT: I’M A TWIN
BIRTHDAY: 06/04/2000
POSITION: SCRUMHALF
HOBBIES: PLAYING THE GUITAR OR READING
RUGBY HERO; ANTOINE
DUPONT
RUGBY AMBITION: TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS WITH EMILY
FULL TIME: LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 44-5 HARLEQUINS
HOME TEAM (LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING)
TRIES: Lingham 5, Tasker 36, 75, Burton 49, Field 59, WestcombeEvans 64, 68, 80
CONVERSIONS: Green 76, 80
AWAY TEAM (HARLEQUINS)
TRIES: Torley 13
CONVERSIONS:
Loughborough Lightning stormed to a 44-5 victory against Harlequins on Saturday to secure their spot in the Allianz Cup 5/6th place final.
The young home side put eight tries past the London visitors, with Bo Westcombe-Evans grabbing yet another hattrick, Georgina Tasker running over twice and Abi Burton scoring on her return to 15s. Georgie Lingham started the scoring for Lightning however, running it into the corner after six minutes.
Harlequins responded immediately, showing their threatening pace through Katie Shillaker, who handed off to Lauren Torley to find their only points of the game.
Both sides faced off in a physical battle, but
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING: Tasker, Westcombe-Evans, Hardy, Morrall, Lingham, Green, Davey, Trevarthen, Field, Clifford, Ives Campion, Dale, Williams, Svoboda, Burton
REPLACEMENTS: Meuller, Baverstock, Panayiotou, Andrews, Waudby, Baker, Scantlebury, Swartz
HARLEQUINS: Boatman, Torley, Comerford, Mayhew, Shillaker, Scott, Aucken, Cooper, Caitlin, Latsha, Kronish, Thorpe, Wythe, Burnfield, Corson
REPLACEMENTS: Harris, Spurrier, Duffy, Brodie, Evans, Clavering, Roberts, Hoad
it was Lightning who edged ahead before the break, with Tasker running it in after Quins fullback Ellie Boatman was shown a yellow card.
The home side continued their momentum after the break and were rewarded when Burton stepped around the Quins defence to power over after 50 minutes. Bryony Field found the tryline a few minutes later, bunding over after popping out from the back of a maul to extend the home side’s lead.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, slick interplay between the backs allowed Westcombe-Evans to break through and run in her first try of the game. Tasker then grabbed her second, before Westcombe-Evans rounded the game off with two scores at the death.
By Bethan ClargoWorcester Warriors Women (formerly known as Worcester Valkyries) are one of only then clubs nationally that compete at the highest level of English elite women’s rugby – the Allianz Premier 15s. Warriors Women pride themselves on being a progressive, aspirational club who work with both international and local talent to maximise individual player growth and development.
With all of Worcester’s home games being hosted on the state-of-the-art artificial grass pitch at Sixways, and with access to great training facilities Worcester is a great club for ambitious female rugby players.
Worcester Ladies were established in 1993 and since then the club has gone from strength to strength, being crowned Premiership champions for the first time
in their 20 year history in the 2012/13 season, regularly finishing in the top half of the premiership table. In 2016, Worcester Ladies joined up with Warriors and were renamed Worcester Valkyries, before becoming Worcester Warriors Women ahead of the 2019/20 campaign signalling a new era for the team. The team has continued to thrive despite the challenges in the men’s section of the club.
The club has a long history of international success, with many players going on to represent their countries in World Cups and international tournaments such as the Six Nations. The club currently have a number of players representing Wales in the Six Nations, as well as players representing in U18s and U20s National games.
RHYS EDWARDS Director of Rugby
ELANA HOBBS Lightning Team Manager
JAMES GALLAGHER Rugby Programme Manager
KATIE THRIFT Rugby Operations
We’re the record breakers, we’re the volunteers, we’re the supporters, we’re the history makers. United together through the love of sport and the moments that matter.
Be part of Loughborough Sport, be part of history.
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