Premiership Women's Rugby: Saracens deny Harlequins fightback to stay top, Leicester Tigers beat Loughborough Lightening

Saracens stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby table to six points after denying Harlequins a stunning derby comeback to win 29-24.

McKinley Hunt scored three tries for the London club, with substitute Zoe Harrison sealing the points for Saracens in the dying seconds.

It was the away side who found the first points of the game when Shaunagh Brown found a gap in the Saracens defence created by Bethany Wilcock.

Saracens drew level through a penalty try when Abbie Fleming was sent to the bin for 10 minutes, and then went ahead when Hunt got on the board on the stroke of half-time, scrambling over the line from close range.

Hunt’s second try just two minutes after the break put Saracens in control and with Elizabeth Blacklock’s conversion, a 12-point lead at 19-7.

The hosts further extended their advantage when Hunt secured her hat-trick, crashing over the line from another close-range position.

Despite trailing 26-7 with a little over 20 minutes remaining, Harlequins stormed back into the contest following tries from Freya Aucken and Nicole Wythe.

Amy Layzell added another try in the 77th minute as the away side closed the deficit to two points and threatened to upset the odds late on.

However, Saracens were awarded a penalty in the final seconds, which Harrison duly converted to make sure of victory.

The win strengthens Saracens’ lead over the unbeaten Gloucester-Hartpury at the summit of the table, who play the first of two games in hand against Bristol Bears on Sunday.

Harlequins may have run out of steam in their bid to win from behind, but the same couldn’t be said for Leicester Tigers who clawed back a 12-point deficit to clinch a 22-17 victory at Loughborough Lightening.

In another derby between the struggling Tigers and Loughborough, the home side went ahead in the second minute through Kathryn Treder.

But the Tigers quickly responded when Claire Gallagher intercepted the ball on the halfway line and raced to the right corner.

Kathryn Treder added two more tries for Loughborough, but two missed conversions from Helena Rowland would prove crucial as the Tigers began their fightback.

Megan Jones’ try and Amelia Tutt’s conversion cut the deficit to five points in the last of the first-half action.

With five minutes remaining, a second try from Gallagher and a well-taken conversion from Jones gave the Tigers a two-point lead.

The Tigers’ second win of the season was wrapped up when Jones capped off the victory with a late penalty.

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