Written by Matt Brown
Following on from England winning the Women’s rugby World Cup there’s been real excitement surrounding the return of the PWR and the opening game duly delivered.
Both Harlequins and Loughborough Lightning welcomed back World Cup stars including Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya, there was a noticeable buzz in the air as the teams were announced prior to kick off.
It was Loughborough Lightning who started faster as they scored the opening try of the game when Bo Westcombe-Evans scored following superb running from the earlier mentioned Kabeya.
Lightning struck twice ten minutes later when Lucy Calladine crashed over following an exceptional rolling maul.
But the lead was short lived, first following good work from the forwards, Abbie Fleming scored before Beth Wilcock intercepted a pass and raced in from 60m out to level things up following successful conversions from Claudia Pena.
Neither side were showing any signs of slowing down any time soon as both pushed on for the win.
Quins began to turn the game around in their favour but it was Loughborough who scored next, against the run of play when Westcombe-Evans who had scored earlier turned provider this time as her neat grubber kick was dotted down by Alicia Maude who had only been on the field a matter of minutes.
But yet again Harlequins would strike back, first through a penalty try and then through Lauren Torley after a nice pass from Kildunne to send her through a gap in the Lightning defence.
With just three minutes left of the half the hosts now held a 26-21 lead but their visitors would still find time to regain the lead, this time Kabeya crashing over before Nelson added the extra two to make it 28-26 in Lightnings favour.
Half time swiftly came with both sides having the try bonus point secured with Loughborough carrying a slender lead.
The sides were back out for just 3 minutes into the second half when Nicole Wythe crashed over from close range to put Harlequins back in front.
Claudia Pena managed to turn a sensational mazy run into a try under the sticks just seven minutes later.
With the score now at 40-28 Quins went down to 14 when flanker Sara Svoboda was sent to the bin. And with that Loughborough began to take a bit more control in the game as they looked to mount a comeback.
A dominant rolling maul was eventually converted into an important try for replacement hooker Kathryn Treder but yet again Quins did not back down, scoring just moments later, captain Jade Konkel scoring as the forwards capitalised on an overthrown line out by Lightning.
Prop Amelia Williams single handedly tried to bring Loughborough back into the game, she managed to latch onto an offload in her own half to run in for yet another try.
The final 10 minutes was a somewhat cagey affair, the gap just 5 points apart.
Loughborough knowing a try would level things up and a conversion would likely win them the game, it was not meant to be however. With one minute left on the clock Harlequins would hand their visitors one final blow. This time through replacement prop Hannah Sims taking the home side past 50 points for the night and to put the result out of reach for Lightning.
Claudia Pena fell victim to the shot clock for the conversion as she was out of time before she could take her shot at goal.
With that the final whistle came and the home side picked up a bonus point win to start off the new season.
Loughborough return home with a try scoring point ahead of their home game against Sale Sharks at Franklins Gardens next weekend.
Harlequins will travel across London next week as they face off against fierce rivals Saracens who got them better of them in the PWR Cup final earlier this month.
Full time:
Harlequins Women 52
Loughborough Lightning 42
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