MATCH REPORT – SALE SHARKS WOMEN VS LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING
Sale Sharks Women saw out a hard-fought win in their opening game of the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup to start the season.
Playing in front of a record Cup crowd, the home side saw off a late Lightning comeback to win 34-26.
The Sharks didn’t take long to open the scoring. After a brief spell of pressure from the visitors in the opening minutes, Holly Thorpe charged in down the left wing before a debut score from Freya Aucken extended the advantage inside 15 minutes.
A few minutes later Loughborough responded with their first of the season but the standout moment of the game followed. Sophie Hopkins carved through four Lightning tacklers to run through and score on her return from France in what is definitely an early contender for try of the tournament.
The half finished with tries for both teams. Lightning with a delicate cross-field kick before 18-year-old debutant, Lotte Peirsegaele, burrowed through from close range to end the half 26-12.
The second 40 saw the visitors control large passages. Two tries on 48 and 70 minutes from Layzell pulled Lightning level before Holly Thorpe dived over after a smooth backs move off the back of some heavy work from the pack five metres out.
The result sets the Sharks up for a trip to Saracens next weekend before returning to the Morson Stadium in two weeks to face Exeter Chiefs, with tickets available here.
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