Exeter Chiefs Women narrowly miss out on place in the final

Sunday, 14 June 2026 21:03

By Chris Collman

Exeter Chiefs Women missed out on a place in the PWR Final by just two points as they put in a spirited fight at the StoneX Stadium.

They scored six tries to worry the home side but ultimately fell just short. It was the second of two entertaining semi-finals on a day that showed the very best of the PWR.

he first penalty of the game went the way of Chiefs Women with centre Alex Tessier kicking to touch for a lineout on Saracens’ 22. The throw from Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald went to Emily Robinson for the drive but the ball was sent away by sister Flo Robinson to the backs for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald to scamper down the wing for the opening try of the afternoon in the fourth minute…and to make it 11 tries from 11 games for the Red Roses winger.

Two minutes later and Saracens had the same opportunity from a penalty and lineout. Lock Julia Omokhuale successfully gathered the ball before it journeyed towards the right wing. A second penalty allowed Saracens to claim a second lineout from closer range. As the ball headed towards the right wing once more, Alysha Corrigan lay in wait to run over the line. Saracens took the lead with a conversion from Zoe Harrison.

The lineout was clearly going to be key for this game and it gave Chiefs the platform to release No 8 DaLeaka Menin for one of her trademark breaks with Hope Rogers adding her running skills to the mix. The ball was spilled in all the excitement however and possession returned to Saracens.

There was an overthrow from a Saracens lineout only for the ball to be scooped up in the midfield allowing Jess Breach to charge towards the line for Saracens’ second try, also converted by Harrison, to take the score to 14-5.

The restart kick left Saracens in hot water as they fumbled the ball deep in their own territory. Chiefs made the best of the opportunity and they stole the ball on Saracens own line with Dorothy Wall powering her way through defenders to release Liv McGoverne who unfortunately spilled the ball on the line. Chiefs still had the penalty however. They took it quickly and no one was going to stop Rogers from that range. McGoverne still got points on the board with her conversion.

Saracens were quick to reply with a try from Donna Rose despite valiant efforts to hold her up. Harrison was successful with the boot once again to stretch the lead to 21-12.

A Saracens penalty gave Harrison the chance to unleash another long kick to touch but a knock-on handed the ball back to Chiefs and a scrum on their own 22. Menin took off from the back before McGoverne kicked the ball upfield, caught by Corrigan. Although she was brought down by Alex Tessier, Sarries were still back in the Chiefs 22 where confusion at the breakdown gave Liv Apps the chance to glide under the posts unchecked for Saracens’ fourth converted try.

A yellow card for Marlie Packer for cynical play gave Chiefs a breather and a chance to kick to the touch for a close range lineout. A fumbled catch somehow fell into Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald’s hands and gave Chiefs enough momentum to send over prop Amy Rule for a converted try.

Chiefs were making the most of Packer being off the pitch and the next penalty they kicked also went to touch. The catch and drive rumbled over with Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald touching the ball down. McGoverne took the extras to make it 28-26.

There were just seconds left of the first half so when Harrison’s restart kick did not go 10, Chiefs had the scrum on the halfway. The visitors made decent progress into Saracens’ half before the referee took them back for a penalty. Tessier kicked to touch once more and the driving maul was successful again with Rogers going over for her brace to claim the half-time lead of 28-31.

As the second half got going, both teams made errors to break the flow of the game. A scrum penalty gave Chiefs the platform that took them back into Saracens territory. It looked like the visitors’ efforts had been thwarted by a lost ball, but Saracens knocked on in the next move and Chiefs had the scrum only for Menin to return the spill as she tried to run the ball.

Chiefs were having the better time of possession and territory but slips and errors cost them scoring opportunities. However, Saracens were not racking up any more points either. But when Chiefs were caught offside, the door opened once more for the home side as Harrison kicked the ball to touch for an attacking lineout. Omokhuale was safely under the ball to set up the drive before Apps darted out from behind the maul to take her second. Harrison was accurate with the conversion to make it 35-31.

Saracens thought they had added another in the 61st minute when replacement Emma Hardy claimed a ball in the air to ease through the yards to the try-line but a TMO decision found the would-be scorer had knocked the ball on.

The ensuing Chiefs scrum saw Claudia Moloney-MacDonald chip-kick ahead to find space but that space was becoming harder and harder to come by as tension crept into the game. Any scrap of opportunity had to be earned and fought for to retain. As Chiefs edged toward Saracens’ line, every forward threw their body at the line with flanker Maisy Allen coming up with the goods. McGoverne added the conversion to make it 35-38.

Back in the lead with 10 minutes to go, this game on a knife edge. Saracens were giving away penalties to give Chiefs a helping hand. The visitors kept returning to the kick to touch and it looked like Linde van der Velden may set up another driving maul score, but Georgia Evans battled to rip the ball back to prevent Chiefs from extending their lead.

Instead, it would be Saracens that would reclaim their lead after Breach collected a kick in her own half and ran down the wing and over the try-line. The conversion was unsuccessful but still left a two-point deficit to make up with five minutes left on the clock.

Two Saracens lineouts gave them the territory and possession they needed to run the clock down despite a late burst from Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and a run from Merryn Elworthy. As the crowd counted down the seconds, the ball was kicked off the pitch to seal the win for Saracens.