Premiership Women's Rugby: Saracens & Gloucester-Hartpury win
- Published
Gloucester-Hartpury beat Exeter Chiefs in last season's Premiership final
Saracens moved clear at the top of the Premiership Women's Rugby table with a 60-17 win at Leicester Tigers.
They maintained their 100% start to the season with a fourth victory.
Second-placed Exeter Chiefs fell to a first defeat after conceding a late try to lose 31-27 at home to defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury, who made it three wins out of three.
Bristol Bears remain third after scoring five second-half tries in a 41-17 victory at home to Trailfinders.
And Loughborough Lightning are fifth following a 24-12 win at second-bottom Sale Sharks.
Sydney Gregson and Lotte Clapp both scored twice as Saracens ran in 10 tries at Leicester. The hosts had taken a 12-5 lead through tries from Francesca McGhie and Morgan Richardson, before Sarries moved up through the gears.
Marlie Packer, Gregson and Kelsey Clifford added to an earlier score from Sharifa Kasolo to give the league leaders a 10-point advantage at half-time. Jess Breach, Sophie de Goede and Paige Farries all ran over after the break, adding to a further try from Gregson and Clapp's two efforts, with Tess Feury claiming a consolation for the Tigers.
Mia Venner's late try following a brilliant counter-attack earned fourth-placed Gloucester-Hartpury a win in the rematch of last year's final against Exeter at Sandy Park.
The champions had led 17-0 through tries from Kelsey Jones, Alex Matthews and Sam Monaghan but the Chiefs hit back to take the lead following scores from DaLeaka Menin, a double from Claudia MacDonald and Emily Tuttosi.
Gloucester struck through Matthews' second but Gabby Contorna kicked the Chiefs in front again only for Venner to win it for the visitors with six minutes remaining.
Exeter remain second, despite a first defeat in four matches.
Trailfinders launched a spirited comeback after going behind to two early tries from Bristol's Scotland international Lana Skeldon, with Rosie Inman going over and Ellie Green scoring four penalties either side of half-time to give them a 17-12 lead.
The game changed after the Bears' Hannah Botterman crashed over on 55 minutes, with further tries for the hosts coming from Lark Atkins-Davies, Phoebe Murray, Meg Varley and Meryl Smith.
Two tries from Carmela Morrall and one apiece from Cath O'Donnell and Daisy Hibbert-Jones allowed Loughborough Lightning to pick up maximum points at Sale Sharks for their second win of the season.
Morwenna Talling and Nikita Prothero went over for the hosts.
Results
Bristol Bears 41-17 Trailfinders
Exeter Chiefs 27-31 Gloucester-Hartpury
Leicester Tigers 17-60 Saracens
Sale Sharks 12-24 Loughborough Lightning