Exeter Chiefs Women v Loughborough Lightning

Exeter Chiefs made it back-to-back home victories at start of the season in the JAECOO Next Gen Cup thanks to six tries from six different try scorers including hooker Sofia Bekir Fuente’s first start in Chiefs colours as a strong performance ensured a 42-12 victory at Sandy Park.

It took just six minutes for the first try of the day. Fly-half Liv McGoverne finding herself kicking into the space down the left-hand side for winger Danielle Preece to run onto the ball, juggling the ball in her hands before spotting an oncoming Lola Whitley who crossed over the line for the first score. The full seven points were chalked up courtesy of an impressive conversion from McGoverne hugging the left touchline.

Loughborough would get their first try after 27 minutes, as after neat hand work, the ball ended up in the grateful hands of winger Ellie Tromans, accelerating away from the Chiefs’ defensive line and getting the visitors on the board. The conversion was missed by Lightning, hitting the left post and bouncing out to keep the Chiefs ahead by two points.

There was time for the Chiefs to restore a healthy margin, in the fifth minute of extra time, Exeter would find themselves with a lineout, 10 metres from the try line. A maul followed with hooker Bekir Fuente getting her first try for the club on her first start! McGoverne again converted to bring the half-time score to Exeter Chiefs 14-5 Loughborough Lightning.

After less than two minutes into the second half, Chiefs scored their third try. After resolute Loughborough defence, prop Alessia Skeates broke through and score her fifth try for the club.

More waves of Chiefs’ attacks followed with the captain an No 8 Emily Robinson getting herself in on the act with 48 minutes on the clock. With the penalty advantage in favour of the home side, the high-risk, high reward play worked out, with Robinson being the one to ground. McGoverne kicked the conversion to make it 28-5.

Ten minutes later, Exeter Chiefs had their fifth, and all but secured the victory that they deserved. Prop Hannah Sams found a pocket of space, receiving the ball 15 metres out and driving to the try-line to get her second try of her Chiefs career. McGoverne kept up her 100% conversion record with her fifth score making the score 35-5.

Chiefs would be caught out just minutes later, a break was quickly followed by full-back Amy Layzell, her inventive thinking allowed the freshly re-introduced Amelia Williams to burst through and get Loughborough Lightning their second try of the game, which was converted by winger Ellie Tromans to take the score to 35-12.

With four minutes left on the clock, Exeter got one more try in. After constant pressure, Merryn Elworthy got her first of the afternoon. Elworthy’s speed proving to be too much to handle with tired legs, she stretched her arm over the line to make it a six-try haul. McGoverne making it a clean sweep for the afternoon.