Premiership Women’s Rugby: Saracens win at Leicester Tigers, Trailfinders beat Sale Sharks

Saracens claimed a comfortable 38-5 win at Leicester Tigers to maintain the pressure on league leaders Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Women’s Rugby.

Sarries took the early advantage and scored three tries inside 12 minutes through Kelsey Clifford, Lotte Sharp and Gabrielle Senft.

It went from bad to worse for Tigers when Tahlia Brody was sent off for making head contact with Marlie Packer before Saracens claimed a first-half bonus with a powerful finish by Akina Gondwe.

The visitors picked up where they left off after the interval as Sydney Gregson scored two tries before Tigers claimed a late consolation through Leah Bartlett.

Leicester remain eighth in the table after their seventh defeat of the season, while Sarries move up to second, two points behind Chiefs, whose game at Bristol Bears was postponed because of Storm Darragh.

Elsewhere, Trailfinders heaped more misery on winless Sale Sharks with a 31-5 bonus-point home victory over the bottom club.

Abi Burton scored the opening two tries in the first half before Sale hit back through Eva Wood to reduce the deficit.

Emma Taylor restored the hosts’ advantage on the stroke of half-time before Abby Dow sealed the bonus after the break.

With victory assured, Burton completed her hat-trick on the hour mark as Trailfinders strengthened their grip on sixth place.