Saracens Amateur RFC Limited

Saracens still top the Women’s Premiership table after 13 rounds but with a game in hand for rivals Richmond the race for the title is still very much on.

Saracens, who top the table by just four points, made it 11 league wins from 13 on Sunday after a hard fought 25-21 victory over Lichfield. The Londoners started at a quick pace and despite some brave defence, the home side were first to score with a try in the corner from Stacey White.

Lichfield hit back with a series of well-executed offloads by Sarah Hunter, Emily Braund and Justine Lucas, resulting in Becky Williams running in to score under the posts.

England wing Sally Tuson put Saracens back in charge when Lichfield were turned over in their own 22 couldn’t scramble back in time. Tuson then added a second for a 15-7 lead.

Once again Lichfield fought back. Scrum half Georgina Gulliver made a break through the Saracens defence and with offloads from Hunter, Harriet Millar-Mills and Braund, Lichfield came close through Stacey Maguire. In the end, however, it was England lock Braund who took the chance, leaping over the breakdown to score. Jackson once again converted, taking the score at half time to 15-14.

After the break both teams continued to threaten but Saracens had the majority of possession. Turned over again, Lichfield paid the price with White scoring to make it 20-14.

Following a long period of sustained pressure in the Saracens 22, Lichfield once again hit back. A penalty five metres out saw Lichfield opt for the scrum and scrum half Ali Taft made the break to go over and score. Jackson added the conversion to put Lichfield into the lead, making it 21-20.

With just one point in it, the last 20 minutes was a thrilling affair but in the end it was Saracens who took the spoils scoring in the latter stages of the game and securing an all-important bonus point.