Westcombe-Evans storms home to light up Lightning

By JAMES LOGAN

ENGLAND wing Bo Westcombe-Evans, below, struck twice as Loughborough Lightning recorded their first win of the PWR campaign.

Loughborough scored six tries in total to run out comfortable winners at Franklin’s Gardens, leaving Sale winless in the league.

Centre Hallie Taufoou said: “It’s really exciting, we don’t have all of our internationals back as of yet so to get a win and a bonus point win is massive.

Loughborough ..36pts

Tries: Davey 4, Westcombe-Evans 11, 49; Taufoou 17, Green 34, Clarke 45

Conversions: Green 4, 34, 45

Sale Sharks ……. 17pts

Tries: Hopkins 30, Rigoni 68, Antwis 75

Conversion: Wilkins 75

“Today we wanted to show the league that we are tough, and we are strong and I think that we did that. Playing here too, Franklin’s Gardens is the best pitch in the world and to represent Loughborough and Northampton is even better.”

It was the best possible start as Lightning struck twice within the first 10 minutes – first scrum-half Megan Davey and then Westcombe-Evans getting the better of the Sharks’ defence to put the hosts 12-0 up.

The home side capitalised once again, this time through Taufoou. Sale were unable to stop a rolling maul and a few phases later the Loughborough flanker bundled over from close range.

Sale received some rare possession of the ball and following several penalties, Sophie Hopkins walked over in the corner for their first try. The conversion from the touchline landed just short of the crossbar.

Lightning flanker Kendall Waudby was sin-binned for not retreating

10 at a free-kick but Loughborough’s bonus-point score still came just before the break as fly-half Lia Green spotted a gap in the defenceto dive over.

Loughborough extended their lead just after the break, Evelyn Clarke going over following a brilliant line break before Westcombe-Evans doubled her tally for the afternoon in the corner – with Sale’s Nikita Prothero sent to the bin after interfering in the breakdown leading to the try.

The visitors did get a slice of luck when an overthrown pass landed in the hands of Beatrice Rigoni, and there was no stopping the centre who ran in unchallenged for 36-10.

Ioana Antwis touched down for a late consolation for the Sharks from a driving maul as Lightning ended the game with 14 players after Elis Martin was penalised for not releasing just short of her own line.