Heard hat-trick helps Gloucester-Hartpury beat Exeter

Tatyana Heard helped England win the World Cup

Premiership Women's Rugby

Exeter Chiefs: (7) 31

Tries: Allen (2) Poulin, Menin (2) Cons: McGoverne (3)

Gloucester-Hartpury (33) 47

Tries: Metcalfe (2), Heard (3), Sing, Penalty try Cons: Sing (5)

World Cup winner Tatyana Heard scored a hat-trick as Gloucester-Hartpury continued the defence of their Premiership Women's Rugby title with a 47-31 win over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

Gloucester-Hartpury made a dominant start with tries from winger Nel Metcalfe and centre Heard.

Flanker Maisy Allen grabbed Exeter's first try before full-back Emma Sing produced a moment of brilliance to restore Gloucester-Hartpury's two-try lead.

The England international, who also kicked five conversions, picked the ball up in her own half, ran through a packed midfield before chipping ahead and winning the race to touch down the ball.

Heard and Metcalfe both scored their second tries as the champions established an emphatic 33-7 half-time lead.

The second half started with Allen grabbing her second try of the game, which was closely followed by Heard clinching her hat-trick score.

But Exeter refused to give up and were rewarded with two tries from prop DaLeaka Menin and one from winger Sabrina Poulin.

However, victory was sealed for Gloucester-Hartpury when they were awarded a penalty try five metres from their tryline after Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, who was shown a yellow card, made an illegal attempt at an interception.

Hooker Amy Rule, the first New Zealand player to move to the league, and Canada international Abby Duguid both made their debuts for the Chiefs.

Both teams secured a four-try bonus point and are first and second in the league table before Sunday's three matches.

Line-ups

Exeter Chiefs Women: Tessier, Buchanan, McGillivray, Cantorna, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, McGoverne, Robinson, Rogers, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Rule, van der Velden, Robinson (c), Nigrelli, Allen, M Feaunati

Replacements: Tuttosi, Swann, Menin, DuGuid, Dare, Nye, Elworthy, Poulin

Gloucester-Hartpury: Sing, Venner, Shekells, Heard, Metcalfe, George, Hunt (cc), Perry, Jones, Muir, Monaghan, Beckett, Stratford (cc), Brock, Matthews

Replacements: Jones, Samuda, Tuipulotu, Williams, Lewis, Davies, Goulden, Dallavalle