Premier 15s: Saracens edge out Loughborough after Harlequins beat Wasps

Twin sisters Bryony and Poppy Cleall scored two tries each to help Saracens beat Loughborough Lightning 28-24 in a pulsating Premier 15s semi-final.

Defending champions Sarries will meet Harlequins, who earlier beat Wasps 25-14, in the final next Sunday.

Two Jess Breach tries helped Quins to a third straight final against Saracens.

Sarries hold on to see off Loughborough

Davies bundled over from a line-out and maul to give Lightning an early lead at the StoneX Stadium, but Sarries levelled through a converted Poppy Cleall try when the prop crossed from close range.

Rhona Lloyd put Lightning ahead again when she burst away after taking Emily Scarratt’s deft pass, but Sarries responded when back rower Bryony Cleall first drove over by the posts and then reacted quickly with a tap penalty to catch Lightning’s defence off guard.

Davies’ second try came from another line-out and maul before the break, but Poppy Cleall extended Sarries’ lead after half-time when she followed up Marlie Packer’s drive to dive over the line.

Lightning finished strongly with Field, on as a replacement for Davies, controlling a maul from a line-out before scoring but with just seconds remaining a superb turnover from Packer ended Lightning’s hopes.

It was a particularly sweet moment for Bryony Cleall, who has fought back to full fitness after breaking and then suffering a stress fracture to her leg.

Breach stars in Harlequins’ victory over Wasps

In the first semi-final, Breach scored two superb tries but was on crutches following the match after being carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury late in the game.

Vickii Cornborough also crossed as Quins built a convincing half-time lead, but tries from Abbie Dow and Andrea Stock gave Wasps hope in the second half.

Each of Breach’s tries came when the 23-year-old sliced her way through the Wasps defence, but she was injured making a try-saving tackle on Dow with 10 minutes left.