Saracens 32 Harlequins 24
Saracens are back where they belong. They prevailed in an enthralling Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-final showdown that saw-sawed one way and then the other to reach their first domestic final in three years.
In a titanic tussle that was full of snarl and bite, the hosts drew on their calculated forward power in an eight-try thriller to power past their London rivals in this absorbing derby. In terms of adverts for the English women’s game, this was right up there.
In the end, two quick-fire second-half scores from Alysha Corrigan and May Campbell proved decisive after a Lauren Torley score gave Quins a lifeline.
The visitors, who were bidding to reach their first final in four years after a much-improved season, had drawn first blood early on through their Spanish wonder-winger Claudia Pena. But as their energetic start faded, Saracens’ blood-and-thunder forward game intensified and they celebrated wildly after the final whistle.
More to follow...
04:53 PM GMT
WATCH: The winning moment
04:50 PM GMT
FULL TIME: Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
They’ve done it! Saracens are into the Premiership final. They were made to work for it no doubt but were deserved winners in the end.
04:48 PM GMT
79 mins - Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Blistering break by Kildinne after a turnover has Saracens holding onto possession on their own five-metre line but they recover well. Time is up for Harlequins now.
04:47 PM GMT
72 mins Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Right, we’ve had a bit of a technical glitch but we’re now back. What have we missed? Quite a bit. This Saracens side will just not lie down - they respond with two scores in quick succession from Corrigan and May Campbell respectively to all but put the game beyond doubt. Slick hands find the Canadian on the corner but it was a brilliant intercept from Marlie Packer which set the foundation for Campbell to go over.
04:46 PM GMT
77 mins - Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Saracens look to hold onto possession and bleed the clock in this closing few minutes and to be fair they’re doing a great job. And now they earn a penalty! That could well be that.
04:44 PM GMT
75 mins - Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Vital knock-on from Neumann for Harlequins after a Saracens’ clearance. That might just give Saracnes the territory and control they need to finish this one off.
04:42 PM GMT
74 mins - Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Harlequins earn a penalty soon after the restart and it’s a yellow card for Saracens’s Senft! This is going to be an engrossing end to this clash. Kildunne carries strongly before Harlequins earn yet another penalty which they punch deep into the Saracens’ half.
04:39 PM GMT
70 mins - TRY Saracens 32 - 24 Harlequins
Excuse a few technical issues there. We are back up and running. Saracens have since extended their lead but as you join me Harlequins have just scored to set up an exciting finale!
04:36 PM GMT
58 mins - TRY Saracens 20 - 17 Harlequins
TRY! Harlequins are back in it and it’s replacement winger Lauren Torley, who has spent most of the season with GB sevens, who finishes off an exquisite training-ground move. Harlequins get on the front foot quickly from their lineout and quick hands from Swords and Tuima find the pacemaker on the edge - in the middle of it all Kildunne runs a superb dummy line to suck in three defenders - clearing the path for Torley to run in. Tuima doesn’t add the extras.
04:24 PM GMT
52 mins: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
Quins manage to clear their lines with some desperate defence and Kayleigh Powell finds some much needed field territory with a big hoof. It’s almost a 50-22 but Saracens will get the throw-in, which they execute cleanly. No score yet this second half, which has been a lot more scrappy than the first. Babalwa Latsha is on the pitch and is already getting stuck in - the prop has heavy strapping on her thigh so she’s slotting into the second row for this one - and plays her part in driving the visitors into Saracens’ 22. But Cleall, who has been everywhere today, gobbles up a loose ball; that spurts out of a ruck, and the hosts get a breather. Just over 20 mins to play.
04:18 PM GMT
52 mins: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
Saracens get the shove on at a Harlequins scrum and go on the attack down.. They’ve recycled efficiently when they’ve needed to today and they stress the visitors’ defence by deploying it to Corrigan, who eats up space down her wing. They keep the momentum through Cleall and Packer who continue to march Harlequins back and the ball pops up to Kelsey Clifford, but the prop drops the ball over the line! No try.
04:12 PM GMT
45 mins: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
It was a high-octane first half but things have been a bit scrappy and erratic after the break. Both teams’ lineouts are functioning….quite terribly. Jade Konkel is penalised for coming in at the side and it’s yet another pen for Quins who are going to have to watch themselves here. Saracens have their tails up and have all the momentum and Poppy Cleall is held up after a flurry of carries..
04:01 PM GMT
41 mins: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
The teams are back out and the second half is underway. This could be anyone’s game.. but if Quins are to have half a chance of getting back into out they’re going to have to get on top of their penalty count. It’s been a brilliant, absorbing advert so far for the PER, we’ve seen everything from calculated forward power to the finesse of fullback’s Jess Breach’s flying feet.
03:42 PM GMT
Half time: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
Another spiky episode involving Kildunne - Saracens are clearly trying to target the Red Roses supremo. She goes to ground isolated and there’s a few afters involving Lotte Sharp, who gets a shove from Beth Wilcock. Saracens regain possession and look for some luck out wide - Harrison ships it to Breach who finds herself in acres of space - but mistimes her pass terribly to Corrigan outside her, and the ball rolls into touch. And that’s the end of a breathless first half..
03:40 PM GMT
32 mins: Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
We haven’t had a try for.. A whole five minutes so not sure what’s going on. Quins go on the attack again after winning a scrum penalty and a massive grin breaks out across Lagi Tuima’s face as Saracens are marched back another 10 metres by ref Holly Wood. It’s prop Akina Gondwe with some backchat, and Tumia kicks for the corner. It’s a clean take from Bonar in the lineout and Quins work it towards the wider channel to find Kildunne, who takes on Breach and Corrigan but coughs up ball to Emma Hardy, and Sarries clear.
03:30 PM GMT
25 mins: TRY! Saracens 20 - 12 Harlequins
Blimey, five tries and we’re not even half an hour in. Saracens eke out their advantage through Marlie Packer, who snipes over from five metres out. It’s a well worked team score - Harlequins are all at sea and cough up a pen for straying offside - and Packer senses her opportunity, barging Lochner out the way en route to the whitewash. Harrison adds the extras.
03:23 PM GMT
21 mins - TRY! Saracens 13 - 12 Harlequins
This game just keeps on giving.. This time it’s Saracens who grab their second and it’s a stunning cameo from Jess Breach! If her defensive rustiness was exposed by Pena earlier, here she is reminding everyone of her excellent attacking prowess. She goes on a meandering run from inside her own half - there isn’t a Quins shirt that gets near her - and touches down. Sublime.
03:20 PM GMT
17 mins - TRY! Saracens 8 - 12 Harlequins
Harlequins hit back! And it’s none other than their star woman, Ellie Kildunne. The visitors capitalise on a period of Saracens’ indiscipline - they leak four straight penalties as Quins enter their 22. Swords, Quins’ scrumhalf, spots Kildunne out wide and pings an inch-perfect pass out to the Red Roses flyer, who glides over. Rosie Galligan catches the fullback late and there’s a few afters - clearly no love lost between these two. Tuima makes no mistake from the tee.
03:14 PM GMT
7 mins -TRY! Saracens 8 - 5 Harlequins
Saracens continue to recover from their shaky start with Corrigan dotting down in the corner. It’s a typical wolf pack try - the hosts pour forward with a flurry of incisive carries, with Poppy Cleall, Marlie Packer and Rosie Galligan all making inroads. But it’s Zoe Harrison who waves her magic wand - she sends the flattest of passes out to Sophie Bridger who is loitering on the wing. The centre is stopped inches short but Corrigan is behind her to tidy up for an easy finish. Harrison can’t add the extras this time.
03:08 PM GMT
6 mins - Saracens 3 - 5 Harlequins
The hosts muster a decent response and flood forward from the restart and Jade Konkel is penalised for not rolling away as Danielle Lochner makes some good metres. Zoe Harrison slots her kick through the uprights.
03:05 PM GMT
4 mins - TRY! Saracens 0 - 5 Harlequins
Wow, Harlequins strike early! The visitors draw first blood through Claudia Pena, their Spanish wonder winger who is having a ridiculously brilliant season. Saracens get it all wrong from kick-off as Georgia Evans misjudges the flight of Lagi Tuima’s kick. Ellie Kildunne makes some fine metres infield before Tuima is involved again with a sumptuous floating pass out wide to Sarah Bonar. The Scot feeds Pena on her shoulder and she shrugs off Alysha Corrigan and Jess Breach to touch down in the corner. Tuima can’t convert.
02:56 PM GMT
Marlie packs a punch
Austerberry has been singing the praises of his co-captain, Marlie Packer, who has hit fine form since being dropped sa Red Roses captain in January. Packer steered England through an unbeaten 2024, but was replaced by Zoe Aldcroft as England skipper.
Marlie’s been outstanding,” said Austerberry. “I didn’t expect anything less from her. We know the character she’s got and we know she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’ll do anything to put the team in the best place possible, whether that’s Saracens or the Red Roses. It’s no surprise that she’s hitting some of her best form of the season. It’s almost as if we’re kind of underestimating that or we’re taking it for granted, because that’s who she is.
It would have been a pretty disappointing moment but she can be immensely proud of what she’s done in recent weeks but of who she is and what she’s done when the pressure’s been on. Hopefully we can reap the fruits of her labour this weekend.”
02:40 PM GMT
Today’s action is live on TNT Sports
02:39 PM GMT
Saracens aiming to avoid repeat of semi-final heartache
Saracens have always been a titan of the English women’s club game but they have lost some of their prestige in recent seasons. They came undone at this point last year against Bristol Bears and will be desperate to right that wrong.
If you get hung up on incidents and one experience, I think that’s quite dangerous,” said Alex Austerberry, the Saracens director of rugby, earlier this week. “The big thing for us were the learnings we took from that game were how we didn’t deal with certain situations well. Am I sitting here saying ‘Crikey, am I worried about what happened last time?’ Absolutely not.”
02:33 PM GMT
Harlequins team news
There are four personnel changes in the starting XV ahead of Quins’ first semi-final in three years. In the pack, Tyla Shirley comes in to start in the second-row alongside Danelle Lochner, with Abbie Fleming moving to openside flanker. She is joined in the back-row by Sarah Bonar and returning captain, Jade Konkel, as part of an all-international trio. Emma Swords comes into the side to start at scrum-half, with Clàudia Peña moving to the left wing and Sarah Parry starting at outside centre after her try-scoring cameo off the bench last weekend.
Harlequins E Kildunne; B Wilcock, S Parry, L Tuima, C Pena; K Powell, E Swords; S Turani, C Powell, L Hanlon, T Shirley, D Lochner, S Bonar, A Fleming, J Konkel.
Replacements C Phillips, J Spurrier, L Delgado, H Millar-Mills, B Latsha, L Torley, L Neumann.
02:30 PM GMT
Saracens team news
Austerberry makes five changes from the side that beat Sale Sharks last Friday night. In the front row, Akina Gondwe and May Campbell are reunited with Kelsey Clifford who returns at tight head. The second row partnership remains unchanged with Red Roses lock Rosie Galligan starting alongside Scotland international Louise McMillan after her impressive score and performance against the Sharks.
Saracens J Breach; A Corrigan, E Hardy, S Bridger, L Sharp; Z Harrison, E Wyrwas; A Gondwe, M Campbell, K Clifford; R Galligan, L McMillan, G Evans, M Packer, P Cleall.
Replacements B Field, M Hunt, C Tremelling, B Cleall, G Senft, T Sellors, S McKenna, S Gregson.
02:21 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to our live Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-final coverage of Saracens v Harlequins. If you’re searching for your rugby fix in the second fallow week of the men’s Six Nations, you’ve come to the right place.
February seems ridiculously early for some play-off action, but the PWR has been squeezed into a six-month season with the women’s World Cup happening in England later this year.
The first of the weekend’s matches promises to be a thrilling battle between two sides who have both fallen well short in recent seasons in an era of Gloucester-Hartpury’s dominance.
Under new head coach Ross Chisholm, Harlequins have been a different beast this campaign - they led the PWR table for a large chunk of the season - but have flatlined over the past six weeks, coughing up points against top-four opposition which saw them miss out on securing a home semi-final.
Saracens, meanwhile, snapped Quins’ 10-match winning streak in January in a statement win and Alex Austerberry’s side have been flying form of late. His side have semi-final heartache to avenge after being stunned by Bristol Bears at this stage last year, when they became the first side in PWR history to lose a play-off battle on home turf.
Harlequins come into this match off the back of losses to Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol, meaning they’ll be looking to get one over their London foes. This is their first play-off semi in three seasons, so they’ll be desperate to make up for lost time.
“There’s nothing better than playing in front of your home crowd,” said Austerberry. “It’s been incredibly important to us historically. If we can capture the momentum and the energy, and they can fuel and feed us, hopefully we can take advantage of that.”
