Saracens go top of PWR as Wafer makes Quins debut

Saracens went top of the Premiership Women's Rugby table with a bonus-point win at Exeter, while Aoife Wafer made her long-awaited Harlequins debut in a 22-17 victory over Sale.

Sarries are level on points with defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury, who are on a bye week after starting the campaign with six consecutive bonus-point victories.

They were made to work hard for their win by Exeter, who led 14-5 late in the first half thanks to two tries from Canada centre Alex Tessier.

May Campbell and Julia Omokhuale replied to ensure Sarries were only four points behind at the interval, before Louise McMillan and Donna Rose crossed to wrap up a 24-14 victory.

In Saturday's other match, Trailfinders ran in nine tries in a convincing 57-10 win against bottom club Leicester, while Loughborough Lightning overcame Bristol Bears 31-19 on Sunday to move up to fourth in the table.

Loughborough trailed by five points at the break despite a brace of tries from Mae Sagapolu but second-half tries from Lis Maude and Alev Kelter secured a bonus-point victory.

Reneeqa Bonner, Emma Orr and a superb breakaway try from full-back Ella Lovibond had given the Bears a 19-14 half-time lead but they were unable to post any points in the second half.

At Twickenham Stoop, England full-back Ellie Kildunne scored the first of Quins' four tries after Scotland international Rhona Lloyd had given the visitors an early lead.

Beth Wilcock, Sarah Parry and Connie Powell secured a try bonus point, although Shona Campbell's late score set up a nervous finale.

It was announced in May that 22-year-old back row Wafer, the 2025 Women's Six Nations player of the tournament, would move to Harlequins from Leinster after the Women's Rugby World Cup.

However, injuries sustained in Ireland's quarter-final defeat by France in September meant she has had to wait until the seventh round of league fixtures to make her first appearance for her new club.

She came off the bench to play the final 30 minutes.

Quins' win moved them above Trailfinders, for whom Vicky Laflin scored two first-half tries in their emphatic victory over Leicester.