The Army’s women will be the focus of our attention this weekend, with representatives turning out for both Harlequins and Wasps in the Premier 15s.
Bdr Bethan Dainton (RA) and SSgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) both helped Harlequins move into third place in the table with a bonus point win last weekend – SSgt Mullen also scoring Quins’ seventh and final try – and they are once again in the match day 23, Bdr Dainton starting in the back row and SSgt Mullen on the bench.
Harlequins host Sale at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday afternoon (KO 1400hrs) for their final home game of the regular season looking to take the momentum from last weekend’s success and take another big step into the semi-finals.
The home outfit had a good 36-10 win at Sale earlier in the season, and with the Sharks having had just the one win all season confidence will be high in the Harlequins camp that they can sign off from the Stoop on a high.
Harlequins’ chase for an even higher finish in the league could be helped by their London rivals, Wasps, who host second-placed Bristol at Twyford Avenue on Saturday lunchtime (KO 1330hrs).
Capt Gemma Rowland (RA) lines up in the centres for Wasps, who go into the fixture on the back of two morale-boosting results, following up a comeback draw against Exeter with a bonus point win away to DMP Durham Sharks.
Wasps also know that they will need to win to maintain any realistic hopes of finishing in the top four themselves, but it will be a challenge against a Bears outfit which comes into the game on the back of a three-match winning streak.
Bristol’s approach in attack and defence is also shown by their points difference, which is 139 better than Wasps, even though the hosts have earned seven try-scoring bonus points to Bristol’s eight.
Saturday’s game is being live streamed via the Premier 15s website.
Elsewhere LCpl Semesa Rokoduguni (Scots DG) and Pte Ratu ‘Siva’ Naulago (Yorks) are both suspended and Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA) is having a bye week with Coventry in the Championship.
North of the border Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) is on the bench for Glasgow Warriors, who will be seeking to consolidate their place in the United Rugby Championship’s top four in Saturday’s home game against Benetton Treviso (KO 1935hrs).
Glasgow go into the game on the back of a four-match winning streak in the league, their last reverse having come away to Benetton in November.
The Warriors’ form is also reflected in their having the second best attack in the competition in terms of both points and tries scored, as well as the second best stat in the number of clean breaks made.
Meanwhile Benetton’s form is hard to predict, the Italians having played in the league just twice in the last two months, although those results included a win over Zebre and a draw away to the Dragons at the end of January.
Saturday’s clash at Scotstoun is being broadcast live on Premier Sports.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks. Header and Featured Image © Alligin Photography, Lee Crabb
