Saracens win at Quins to boost play-off chances

Saracens stunned high-flying hosts Harlequins with a five-try blitz in Premiership Women’s Rugby to claim a bonus-point win that boosts their play-off chances.

They built on early scores to claim a deserved 33-10 victory that dents second-placed Quins ‘ title challenge.

With only three games left in the regular season, the visitors move up to third place in the table, two points behind Harlequins, who are still three points behind league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury.

Lotte Sharp, a Saracens international from the USA, scored tries at the start of each half before racing under the posts four minutes later when the ball was out wide.

Sarries had already won the first half thanks to Bryony Field’s error in coming out of the maul, but Ellie Kildunne put Sarries back on their feet before the break by completing a diligent Quins move.

After Sharp put the visitors back in control, further second-half tries from Sophie Bridger and Akina Gondwe, either side of an Abbie Fleming score for Quins, completed the win.

Meanwhile, fifth-placed Bristol Bears missed out on the chance to move back into the top four after falling to a 39-38 defeat at Trailfinders.

Kate Zackary, Lisa Thomson, Tyson Beukeboom, and two from Liz Musgrove added to the scores with Grace Moore’s zipped under the posts for what turned out to be the winning try.

The hosts were able to hold on to the score in the dying moments thanks to Millie David and Lark Atkin-Davies’ late attempts, both of which scored twice for Bristol.

Defeat leaves the Bears level on 43 points with fourth-placed Exeter Chiefs, but below them on matches won. Exeter host Sale Sharks on Sunday.