Loughborough Lightning Rugby Programme Issue 7

RUGBY LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

VS

GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

ALLIANZ PREMIER 15s SAT 26 FEB 2022 KO 13:00

ESTABLISHED 2017

WHERE HISTORY BEGINS ISSUE 7

FREE

CONTENTS 4

WELCOME FROM RHYS EDWARDS

5

TODAY’S TEAMS

6

MATCH REPORT

8

MEET THE TEAM

10 TODAY’S OPPOSITION 11 POSITIONS 12 STAFF 13 LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING FIXTURES AND RESULTS 14 LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FIXTURES AND RESULTS

4

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING V GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

RHYS EDWARDS

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY Welcome back to Epinal Way, for another round of Premier15s Rugby, where today we host Gloucester-Hartpury.

Last week saw us play our Round 14 fixture at the Cinch Stadium at Franklins Gardens, against Exeter Chiefs, in what was a classic battle. Having started well, going 14-7 up before half time, we left ourselves a lot to do going into the last 10 minutes. A yellow card to Lark Davies, left us short and let Exeter build a 14-25 lead. However the character we showed to get back into the game and score 2 great tries, meant we got a well-deserved bonus point win, winning 28-25.

Our Northampton Partnership is something that we are every bit excited for, with the ability to continue the growth of the women’s game at both the Elite level and at grass roots. The expertise and experience of all the Northampton staff will only enhance our journey and we are very much looking forward to continuing, what is already extremely exciting partnership, and have many more fixtures at the Cinch Stadium at Franklins Gardens.

Today’s visitors come to Loughborough, having had a week off due to their game versus Saracens being postponed due to the big storm last week. I’m sure they will be chomping at the bit to get out and play, and we are focused on ensuring that they don’t get their way.

The league is getting more on more competitive, and this year no more so, with 7 Teams capable of making the top 4 play offs. Today’s game is a big one, with the winner claiming crucial

points, and continuing their journey towards the playoffs.

Finally, congratulations to our Scotland Internationals, who have qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand following their win against Columbia in the World Cup Qualifier. This is a huge result, and we are extremely proud to have helped our Scottish Internationals get to their first World Cup. Well done Rachel and the team.

Thanks again for all your support today.

Rhys Edwards Director of Rugby

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING V GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

TODAY’S TEAMS LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

V

GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

KATIE TREVARTHEN

01

01

CARA HOPE

LARK DAVIES (C)

02

02

CONNIE POWELL

03

CERYS HALE

04

SISILIA TUIPULOTU

05

ZOE ALDCROFT

06

GWEN CRABB

07

TABITHA COPSON

08

ANNA CAPLICE

CHARLIE JACOBY

03

COURTNEY HOLTKAMP

04

ABBY DUGULD

05

SARA SVOBODA

06

SADIA KABEYA

07

SARAH HUNTER

08

REFEREE: ANDY WIGLEY AR FIONA BRUNT AR SAM YATES

ELOISE HAYWARD

09

09

BIANCA BLACKBURN

HELENA ROWLAND

10

10

LLEUCU GEORGE

GEORGIE LINGHAM

11

11

EMMA HARDY

12

12

RACHEL LUND

BULOU MATAITOGA

13

13

HANNAH JOAN JONES

CARYS WILLIAMS

14

14

ELLIE UNDERWOOD

FRAN GOLDTHORP

15

15

EMMA SING

MAJA MULLER

16

16

NEVE JONES

ISLA CURPHEY

17

17

RIANNE SAMUDA

GILL BOURKE

18

18

KATHRYN BUGGY

IONA ANTWIS

19

19

KRISTINE SOMMER

HALLIE TAUFOOU

20

20

GEORGIA BROCK

JESS WEAVER

21

21

NATASHA HUNT

EMILY SCARRATT

22

22

ROBYN WILKINS

GEORGINE TASKER

23

23

EMILY WOOD

BRYONY FIELD

24

BEYONCE FOLWER

25

BO WESTCOMBE-EVANS

26

5

6

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING VS EXETER CHIEFS

MATCH REPORT MATCH SATURDDAY: FEBRUA AY 19 RY

the bulk of both territory and possession. Strong runs by Exeter and efficient work at the breakdown piled the pressure on Lightning who tackled tenaciously across the field.

Loughborough fought hard but just after the half hour mark Exeter battled over to score, adding the conversion to level the game at 7 points all Exeter continued to press hard as the game approached half time but it was Lightning who ended the first 40 minutes on a high. Fran Goldthorp grabbed a loose ball on the half way line and scorched down the pitch to secure Lightning a second try. With Rowland adding the conversion Lightning went into the half time break 14-7 ahead.

Allianz Premier 15s side Loughborough Lightning beat Exeter in their first ever game at Franklin’s Gardens, home of the Northampton Saints. Lightning, who agreed a strategic partnership with Saints in September 2021, were quick to showcase their exciting brand of rugby in front of several thousand enthusiastic supporters.

East Midlands, Lightning came out on top after a valiant effort

by Exeter who led for large parts of the game.

Final Score: Loughborough Lightning: 28 - Exeter: 25

Lightning started the game brightly scoring a first try in the opening ten minutes. High speed play on the immaculate pitch and direct running lines saw powerful forward Charli Jacoby blast over the try line.

Helena Rowland converted giving Lightning the perfect start.

On an ice-cold night as storm Eunice swept away from the

Thereafter, it was Exeter who began to dominate, having

Exeter kicked off the second half and Loughborough responded with a series of dynamic runs by the Lightning back rowers but it was Exeter who secured a penalty after 45 minutes closing the score to 14-10. Exeter continued to press hard and Olivia Jones touched down in the 49th minute putting the Chiefs ahead of Lightning for the first time. An unsuccessful conversion meant the score was 14-15.

Exeter continued to drive into Lightning territory with Sarah Hunter and Sadia Kabeya tackling ferociously to hold

back the waves of Exeter attackers. Under relentless pressure Lightning skipper Lark Davies found her way to an enforced ten-minute break as she sought to contain the Exeter attack. The Exeter penalty extended their lead to 14-18.

With just 20 minutes left in the game Exeter capitalised on the temporarily depleted Lightning side. Hope Rogers broke the Loughborough defensive line taking the score to 14-23. A successful conversion meant Exeter were leading 14-25.

In the closing quarter Lightning flooded the pitch with replacements and skipper Davies returned to the field, taking Loughborough back to full strength.

With less than five minutes left of normal time, Rowlands landed a penalty five yards from the Exeter try line.

The ensuing lineout ran like clockwork and a series of powerful carries by the forwards saw Kabeya crash over to score. With another successful conversion by Rowland, the score was 21 -25 and the Franklin’s Garden’s crowd started to roar on Lightning’s spirited efforts in the final moments of the game.

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

TRIES:

Jacoby 7’, Goldthorp 39’, Kabeya 73’ 79’

CONVERSIONS:

Rowland 8’, 40’, 74’, 80’

EXETER CHIEFS

TRIES:

Zackary 29’, Jones 47’, Rogers 59’

Rugby, Rhys Edwards said, “This was a great all-round 7 team effort. We defended well under intense pressure from Exeter and took our chances when they came. Playing in a world class stadium like Franklin’s Gardens with so many noisy and enthusiastic supporters made a huge difference. We’re looking ahead now to continue to build momentum in the coming weeks.

CONVERSIONS:

Foster 30’, 47’, 60’

PENALTY:

Foster 54’’

Lightning secured possession from the re-start and a repeat of the pinpoint kicking by Rowland to the same corner as just moments before, followed by yet another superb line out saw Lightning launch themselves at the Exeter line.

Unable to stop the Lightning attack it was Kabeya again who smashed through the Exeter defence, over the line, right under the posts. Rowland who kicked impressively all game, slotted the conversion and the game ended 28-25.

Lightning Captain Lark Davies said, “We’ve got a great team, with a fantastic team spirit.

Exeter were consistently challenging us throughout the game but ultimately we managed to win through great defence, dynamic attacking and our never-say-die attitude. I’m so proud of the whole team and it’s brilliant to win our first ever match at Franklin’s Gardens in such an emphatic way.”

Loughborough Director of

HALF TIME: LIGHTNING 14 CHIEFS 7 FULL TIME SCORE: LIGHTNING 28 CHIEFS 26 ATTENDANCE: 2000 REFEREE: Dan Rowland

Photos by Ben Lumly

MEET THE TEAM

GEORGINA TASKER INTERESTING FACT:

I’M ALLERGIC TO APPLES

HEIGHT:

171CM WEIGHT:

BIRTHDAY:

69KG

MATCH DAY SUPERSTITIONS:

RUGBY AMBITION:

24/08/2002 I GET 2 PLAITS IN MY HAIR

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10

GLOUCESTER HARTPURY Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC established in the summer of 2014 as a joint venture between Hartpury College and Gloucester Rugby.

In the 2014/15 season, the team were only allowed to play friendlies while the RFU determined the correct level for the them to enter at. In the meantime, the team entered a cup competition and won the Women’s National Junior Cup in its first year of existence.

In 2015/16, GloucesterHartpury finished second in National Championship Midlands Two in their first season of league competition.

The 2016/17 season saw the team win the National Championship Midlands Two title in some style as well as finishing runners up in Intermediate Cup Final.

Many of the club’s players are students from Hartpury College and Hartpury University Centre. The university student team competes in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier League.

In the first season of the Tyrrells Premier 15s the club finished fourth and reached the play-offs, however they were beaten over the two legs by eventual champions Saracens Women.

SQUAD LIST 1. Cara Hope 2. Connie Powell 3. Cerys Hale 4. Sisilia Tuipuloto 5. Zoe Aldcroft 6. Gwen Crabb 7. Tabitha Copson 8. Anna Caplice 9. Bianca Blackburn 10.Lueucu George 11.

12.Rachel Lund 13.Hannah Joan Jones 14.Ellie Underwood 15.Emma Sing 16.Neve Jones 17.Rianne Samuda 18.Kathryn Buggy 19.Kristine Sommer 20.Georgie Brock 21.Natasha Hunt 22.Robyn Wilkins 23.Emily Wood

LIGHTNING

POSITIONS 02

01

03

LARK DAVIES

KATIE TREVARTHEN

04

COURTNEY HOLTKAMP

06

CHARLIE JACOBY

05

ABBY DUGGUID

07

08

SARA SVOBODA

11

SADIA KABEYA

SARAH HUNTER

09

ELOISE HAYWARD

10

HELENA ROWLAND

12

EMMA HARDY

13

BULOU MATAITOGA

11

GEORGIE LINGHAM

15

14

CARYS WILLIAMS

FRAN GOLDTHORP

SUBS MAJA MULLER, ISLA CURPHEY, GILL BOURKE, IONA ANTWIS, HALLIE TAUFOOU JESS WEAVER, EMILY SCARRATT, GEORGINA TASKER, BRYONY FIELD, BEYONCE FOWLER, BO WESTCOMBE-EVANS

12

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING V GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

STAFF

RHYS EDWARDS

ELANA HOBBS

Director of Rugby

SARAH HUNTER Head Coach

Rugby Operations

BRAD JONES

Performance Coach

EMILY SCARRATT Performance Coach

STEVE HALSEY

Performance Coach

EMMA SPONG Physiotherapist

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING V GLOUCESTER HARTPURY

JOE MILE

STEPHEN BREISNER

SIMON MINTON

POPPY FELGATE

MADDIE WAND

ELLIOT SHARP

Team Doctor

S & C Volunteer

S & C Lead

PA Lead

BETHAN CROUSE Nutritionist

S & C Volunteer

Sport Psychologist

13

14

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

FIXTURES 2021/22 DATE

TIME

OPPONENTS

RESULTS

MON 06/09/2021

KO 15:00

A

HARLEQUINS

50-15 LOSS

SUN 12/09/2021

KO 14:00

H

WASPS

0-29 LOSS

SAT 18/09/2021

KO 14:00

A

SARACENS

38-7 LOSS

SAT 02/10/2021

K0 15:00

A

DMP DURHAM SHARKS

0-59 WIN

SAT 09/10/2021

KO 14:00

H

WORCESTER WARRIORS

14-18 LOSS

SAT 30/10/2021

TBC

A

SALE SHARKS

43–15 LOSS

SAT 06/11/2021

KO 14:00

H

SARACENS

12-22 LOSS

SAT 13/11/2021

KO 14:00

H

BYE

SAT 27/11/2021

KO 15:00

A

EXETER CHIEFS

7-14 LOSS

SAT 04/12/2021

TBC

A

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY

31-33 WIN

SAT 11/12/2021

KO 14:00

H

SALE SHARKS

0-27 WIN

SAT 18/12/2021

KO 14:00

H

BRISTOL BEARS

A

WASPS

POSTPONED

H

SARACENS

12-27 LOSS

A

WASPS

41-22 WIN

SAT 08/01/2021 SAT 15/01/2022

KO 14:00

TUE 22/01/2022

BYE

17 -14 WIN

SAT 29/01/2022

KO 14:00

H

DMP DURHAM SHARKS

59-5 WIN

SAT 05/02/2022

TBC

A

SALE SHARKS

32-3 WIN

SAT 19/02/2022

KO 15:00

H

EXETER CHIEFS

28-25 WIN

SAT 26/02/2022

KO 14:00

H

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY

SAT 05/03/2022

KO 14:00

H

BRISTOL BEARS

SAT 26/03/2022

TBC

A

EXETER CHIEFS

SAT 02/04/2022

KO 14:00

H

WORCESTER WARRIORS

SAT 07/05/2022

TBC

A

WORCESTER WARRIORS

SAT 14/05/2022

KO 14:00

H

HARLEQUINS

CUP FIXTURE

15

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS RFC

1XV FIXTURES 2021/22 DATE

TIME

OPPONENTS

RESULTS

A

BLAYDON

23-27 WIN

SAT 04/09/2021

KO 15:00

SAT 11/09/2021

KO 15:00

A

FYLDE

29-17 LOSS

SAT 18/09/2021

KO 14:00

H

HULL IONIANS

29-24 WIN

SAT 25/09/2021

KO 15:00

A

LUCTONIANS

22-28 WIN

SAT 09/10/2021

KO 14:00

A

HULL

26-19 LOSS

SAT 16/10/2021

KO 14:00

H

CHESTER

29-24 WIN

SAT 23/10/2021

KO 15:00

A

TYNEDALE

36-19 LOSS

SAT 30/10/2021

KO 14:00

H

SHEFFIELD TIGERS

33-31 LOSS

SAT 06/11/2021

KO 14:00

H

STOURBRIDGE

22-38 LOSS

SAT 13/11/2021

KO 14:00

H

HUDDERSFIELD

33-29 WIN

SAT 20/11/2021

KO 14:00

A

HARROGATE

15-24 WIN

SAT 27/11/2021

KO 14:00

H

ROTHERHAM

5-71 LOSS

SAT 04/12/2021

KO 14:00

A

WHARFEDALE

15-14 LOSS

SAT 11/12/2021

KO 14:00

H

SEDGLEY PARK

14-43 LOSS

SAT 18/12/2021

KO 15:00

A

BOURNVILLE

POSTPONED

SAT 08/01/2022

28 – 32 LOSS

KO 14:00

H

FYLDE

SAT 15/01/2022

KO 14:00

A

HULL IONIANS

SAT 22/01/2022

19-14 WIN

KO 14:00

H

LUCTONIANS

19-14 WIN

SAT 29/01/2022

KO 15:00

A

STOURBRIDGE

36-12 LOSS

SAT 12/02/2022

KO 14:00

H

HULL

0-39 LOSS

SAT 19/02/2022

KO 15:00

A

CHESTER

SAT 26/02/2022

KO 14:00

H

TYNEDALE

SAT 05/03/2022

KO 15:00

A

SHEFFIELD TIGERS

SAT 12/03/2022

KO 15:00

A

HUDDERSFIELD

SAT 26/03/2022

KO 14:00

H

HARROGATE

SAT 02/04/2022

KO 14:00

A

ROTHERHAM

SAT 09/04/2022

KO 14:00

H

WHARFEDALE

SAT 16/04/2022

KO 14:30

A

SEDGLEY PARK

SAT 23/04/2022

KO 14:00

H

BOURNVILLE

KO 15:00

H

BLAYDON

SAT 30/04/2002

16

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