Leicester Tigers were defeated 36-24 by Loughborough Lightning in the second meeting of the 24/25 campaign, but first of the league season, on Saturday afternoon.
Tom Hudson’s Tigers sides travelled to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens having already recorded a victory at the venue during the PWR Up Series in September.
However, successive victories at the home of Northampton Saints - and a first win for the PWR league season - for Tigers was not to be after they were unable to wrestle back the lead despite a second-half comeback.
Tigers were the first to register points in damp conditions, with a penalty goal to Tess Feury in the ninth minute, before Lightning took back the lead with their first of five tries in the 14th minute when Kris Scurfield crossed out wide.
As the clock ticked over into the 20th minute, Meg Jones - in her first start since returning from injury - swooped on a long pass from Loughborough in attack, intercepting and running it in to dive under the posts for Leicester’s first.
Feury converted to see Tigers lead, 5-8, but that only lasted three minutes before the home side had a second when Kendall Waudby pushed her way over from close range and Emily Scarratt converted to make it 12-10.
Leicester had a chance to go ahead again soon after but Feury’s second penalty goal attempt went wide in the 25th minute.
Both sides traded blows during the next nine minutes and, despite bravely their line for several phases, were then hit with another blow after a yellow card to Charlotte Fray meant Tigers would play with 14 for the remainder of the first half.
It didn’t take long for Lightning to take advantage of the overlap and within one minute of Fray finding her seat in the stands, Scarratt crossed for the home team’s third try and converted her own score to take the lead out to 19-10.
But, Leicester weren’t laying down and on the back of a strong scrum deep in the Loughborough half, No.8 Tahlia Brody pushed her way over and Feury converted the try to make it a two-point game with just two minutes to play before the break.
With the clock in the red, Tigers coughed up possession near their own try line and were then penalised at the ruck to follow, allowing Lightning a chance to kick for touch and set up a line out in striking distance.
The home side did just that, converting the opportunity and securing a fourth-try bonus-point with the driving maul score. Scarratt was again on target from the tee and Loughborough took a nine-point, 26-17, lead into the changing rooms in Northampton.
Both teams continued to try their hand in attack after the break but it would be almost 20 minutes before the next points were scored, which were the home team’s when Lightning debutant Alex Kelter crossed for their fifth on the back of a 50:22 catching out the visitor’s retreating defence.
Scarratt’s fourth successful conversion from five attempts made it 33-17 with only a quarter of the game remaining, where it remained until the 76th minute when a consolation try for Catha Jacobs and successful conversion closed the game to nine points, 33-24.
However, chasing a four-try and losing bonus-point, Leicester gave away a penalty in the final minute and Loughborough added three points with a penalty goal to see the score finish at 36-24.
