Loughborough Lightning have made just two changes to their starting line-up to face Harlequins Women as Katie Trevarthen makes her 100th appearance.
The 28-year-old loosehead prop trades places with Amelia Williams who is among the replacements for Saturday’s encounter at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off: 2pm), while Lia Green is named at fullback – her first start in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby – this week.
Going into the match, the two teams are locked on 28 points with Lightning holding onto fifth spot in the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby table, courtesy of securing one more victory this season.
But head coach Nathan Smith is not obsessing over where the team finishes with three rounds remaining, instead his focus is on how Lightning can make positive strides next term and compete for a top-four position.
“We’ve named a strong 23-player squad to go out and compete and perform for Lightning,” Smith said. “I am looking forward to watching them. I think they will only grow from their experiences at the weekend.
“The message hasn’t changed around it’s not about fifth and sixth, it is about how we can grow our game and develop moving forward. I don’t want to be at the end of next year fighting it out for who is going to finish fifth, sixth and seventh.
“We have to develop a way now that is going to lead us into bigger conversations next year. We want to finish as high up the table as possible, but I don’t want to do that at the sacrifice of not developing or not moving forward next year.“
Nathan Smith, Loughborough Lightning head coach
“We have obviously improved from last year, however if I am sat this time next year wondering whether we’re finishing fifth, sixth or seventh, then we certainly haven’t moved forward again.”
Lightning won their most recent Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby match against Harlequins (29-26), however, they have never recorded back-to-back victories against Quins in the league. Six of the last eight league games between these two sides have been decided by single-digit margins.
💯 𝕮𝖑𝖚𝖇 𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) May 16, 2024
This Saturday against @harlequinswomen (kick-off: 2pm) Katie Trevarthen is set to become the first Lightning player to make 100 appearances for the club. 🐐
🎟️ £7.50* // £3*.https://t.co/LLNLwkr1O1#LightningStrikes⚡️ pic.twitter.com/6KmTGfYKrN
The two sides like to keep ball in hand too, Harlequins (12) and Lightning (9) made fewer kicks in play than any other side during the most recent round of Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby, however, they had the highest kick retention rates of any teams last time out (Harlequins 25%, Lightning 33%).
With her three successful conversions last weekend against Gloucester-Hartpury, 111-times capped Red Roses international Emily Scarratt pulled level with Helena Rowland at the top of the Club’s all-time point scorers’ list (234).
Tickets are available for the match priced at £7.50 for adults and £3 for children*, click HERE to book yours now.
LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING vs HARLEQUINS WOMEN
Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby, Round 16
Saturday 18 May, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2pm
15 Lia Green – First start in Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby
14 Georgina Tasker
13 Emily Scarratt
12 Carmela Morrall
11 Bo Westcombe-Evans
10 Helen Nelson
9 Lucy Weaver
1 Kate Trevarthen – 100th appearance
2 Maja Meuller
3 Laura Keates
4 Emma Wassell
5 Cath O’Donnell
6 Rachel Malcolm (c)
7 Sadia Kabeya
8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (vc)
Replacements:
16 Lucy Calladine
17 Amelia Williams
18 Isla Curphey
19 Abby Duguid
20 Kendall Waudby
21 Sally Williams
22 Megan Davey
23 Freya Greensmith – Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby debut
* Ticket prices are subject to a £1.50 booking fee.
