by Harlequins 0 Saracens 31
England winger Emily Robinson has been banned for headbutting Sydney Gregson after a meeting between Women’s Rugby Premiership titans Harlequins and Saracens ended in chaos.
There was tension on a frosty afternoon in south-west London as Harlequins handed out three yellow cards before skipper Robinson clearly head-butted Saracens center Gregson, after 18-year-old Saracens center Ella Cromack had been pushed hard.
Robinson, who was clearly angry at being tackled by one of her younger team-mates, responded by clearly going after the Saracens player.
Referee Mike Hudson immediately intervened and, after consulting with his assistant referee Gareth Holsgrove, sent Robinson off, despite having already signaled the end of the game. “You’re in charge, it’s a red card,” he told the distressed-looking England winger, whose solitary Red Roses cap came in England’s 68-5 win over Italy in this year’s Six Nations .
The incident sparked wild scenes of confusion at The Stoop, where fans were making their way to the exits, assuming the game was over.
“I haven’t reviewed the film, so I can’t comment,” said Amy Taylor, Harlequins head coach. “It was a reaction to a shove for our 18-year-olds, a bit defensive. I don’t condone it at all, but I don’t know how serious it is – I haven’t seen it – and I haven’t reviewed it. I know that PWR is very thorough in looking at all incidents and making sure they are dealt with appropriately.”
Under RFU regulation 19.2, dribbling carries a minimum six-week ban – a rarity in women’s rugby – although more severe penalties can result in suspensions of up to 16 weeks.
The incident capped a miserable evening for Harlequins, who also suffered a major blow when they lost hurler Carys Phillips to serious injury after just five minutes of play.
Both teams headed back down the tunnel to stay warm as play was stopped for more than a quarter of an hour as the temperature dropped below freezing.
Welsh hurler Phillips, who cruelly suffered the injury from his debut in quarterback shirts after signing from Worcester, was on a stretcher at the end. “I didn’t have the medical care, but she was relieved of the pain in her neck,” Taylor clarified.
The two Titans have enjoyed some classic encounters over the years but on a cold night both struggled to push themselves in a largely repetitive contest.
Slowly but surely, Saracens started to work their way into the game, without winger Zoe Harrison, who received a one-game ban during the week for pulling a hair against Ealing Trailfinders last week.
Although their kicking game may have been found wanting, Saracens had just enough pick with their power forward, providing a reliable platform at their maul. Both May Campbell and Marlie Packer crashed over before the break, as cracks in Harlequins’ energetic defense began to show.
Kate Leaney and Bella McKenzie were yellow-carded within minutes of each other – the latter for a deliberate knock as Saracens looked ready to pounce – paving the way for Packer to finish with one of his trademark moves. from bald
The visitors started a dominant second half, which saw Paige Farries score a brace of tries. Her first was one of the most exciting pieces of play produced by either side all afternoon, when Amelia MacDougall, the stand-in Saracens forward, sent a brilliant cross-field kick that collected and sent the Canadian speedster on the ground.
Meanwhile, Harlequins dug themselves deeper into a hole through their own indiscipline. Shaunagh Brown took a turn in the bin late in the second half as Saracens secured a penalty try and with it, the bonus point, before Robinson missed her header after the whistle.
Data matching
Scoring sequence: 0-5 Campbell try, 0-7 De Goede con, 0-12 Packer try, 0-17 Farries try, 0-19 De Goede con, 0-26 penalty try, 0-31 Farries try.
harlequins E Kildun; I Mayhew (B Wilcock 55), L Tuima, R Burford (E Cromack 70), E Scott; B McKenzie, F Robinson (T Braunerova 75); H Sims (S Cooper 62), C Phillips (S Turani 5), B Latsha (H Duffy 70), S Bonar (A Hele 55), K Leaney, A Fleming (D Lochner 67), E Robinson, S Brown.
Booked: Leaney, McKenzie, Brown.
Address: Robin
Saracens J Violation; P Farries, S Gregson, Sophie Bridger; L Clapp, A MacDougall (C Wardle 74), E Wyrwas (L Infante 67); K Clifford (C Flanagan 74), M Campbell (B Field 71), D Rose (A Gondwe 74), G Evans, R Galligan (E Taylor 67), S De Goede, M Packer (S Kasolo 71), 8. P Cell (G Moore 71
Referee: Mike Hudson
