Premiership Women's Rugby: Saracens beat Loughborough, Sale surprise Bristol to close out regular season

Saracens strolled into the Allianz Premiership Women’s play-offs with a 33-24 win over Loughborough Lightning in the final round of the regular season at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

The bonus point win does little to their standing, with Gloucester-Hartpury having wrapped up the league portion of the competition with a near-unbeaten season - spoiled only by their loss to Saracens last week. But it will see them through to the play-offs with plenty of confidence.

It was not until Bryony Field's 57th-minute try that Saracens finally took control of the game, and the former champions closed out the win.

With Exeter fending off Leicester at Sandy Park, Saracens will face the Chiefs in the semi-finals.

Sarries have won all three matches between the two this season, most recently delivering a crushing 57-7 win on May 19.

Sale Sharks picked up just their third win of the season as they beat third-placed Bristol Bears 27-24.

The loss sees Bristol slip to fourth as Exeter beat Leicester, and means they now face league-leaders Gloucester-Hartpury in the semi-finals.

It was a huge result for Sale as it lifts them from the bottom of the barrel and into eighth place thanks to Leicester losing at Sandy Park.

Exeter Chiefs hosted Leicester Tigers for their first-ever visit to Sandy Park, and ensured they left with a heavy 59-27 loss.

With fifth-place Loughborough sitting on 37 points compared to Exeter's 52 prior to the match, the Chiefs could welcome Leicester safe in the knowledge that qualification was wrapped up.

But with the win, and Bristol's close loss to Sale, the west country outfit moved into third. A third-place finish, although impressive, means a meeting with second-placed Saracens in the semi-finals.

Chiefs have failed to beat both Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens this season, but have fared far worse against Sarries and may have fancied their chances better against the league leaders.

The Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby play-offs begin on Sunday, June 9, with Saracens facing Exeter Chiefs at 14:00 UK time, while Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol Bears face on the same day at 16:30.

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