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PWR leaders Exeter continue winning start at Sale

Exeter Chiefs try scorers Sabrina Poulin and Ebony Jefferies celebrate
Sabrina Poulin, left, and Ebony Jefferies both scored tries for Exeter Chiefs in their victory over Sale Sharks [Getty Images]

League leaders Exeter Chiefs won 29-19 at bottom side Sale Sharks to maintain their 100% start to the Premiership Women's Rugby season.

The Chiefs have an eight-point lead over second-placed Harlequins following their seventh consecutive victory.

Quins closed the gap with a nail-biting 15-14 victory at fifth-placed Saracens in Sunday's late game.

Bristol Bears are fourth following Saturday's 26-7 win at home to Trailfinders, while Loughborough Lightning beat Leicester Tigers 36-24 in the weekend's other game.

Trysh Harper opened the scoring for basement club Sale with a seventh-minute try at home to Exeter, as they aimed to end a run of five consecutive defeats.

Chiefs quickly responded with tries from Mikiela Nelson, Ebony Jefferies and Sabrina Poulin and while Sale's Lizzy Duffy went over to peg them back, the table toppers took a 10-point lead into the break after being awarded a penalty try in first-half stoppage time.

Katie Buchanan scored in the corner early in the second half to stretch Exeter's advantage and they saw out the game despite Holly Thorpe running in Sale's third try three minutes from time.

Unconverted first-half tries from Beth Wilcock and Lizzie Hanlon put Harlequins in the driving seat at Saracens and Wilcock ran in her second of the game after the break to open a 15-0 lead.

Sarries responded with tries from May Campbell and Zoe Harrison, but the home side were unable to complete the comeback as they fell to a second defeat of the season.

Saturday's bonus-point victory for Bristol Bears at Trailfinders briefly moved them up to third place in the table, before Harlequins leapfrogged them.

Emma Orr's opening try handed the Bears an early lead but the visitors levelled after a powerful finish by Tyson Beukeboom.

Rownita Marston-Mulhearn dotted down just before half-time as Bristol regained the advantage, before Sarah Bern stretched their lead after the interval.

Amber Reed converted her own try to seal the bonus point and secure Bears' second successive win.

Trailfinders, meanwhile, dropped to seventh after Loughborough picked up a bonus point in their derby victory over winless Leicester.

Tess Feury landed an early penalty to hand Tigers the lead but Loughborough scored the opening try through Krissy Scurfield.

England centre Meg Jones replied with a terrific interception try as Tigers moved back in front, before Lightning hit back once more through Kendall Waudby.

Emily Scarratt and Tahlia Body exchanged tries before Kathryn Treder scored from a rolling maul to hand Loughborough the bonus point and a 26-17 half-time lead.

Debutant Alev Kelter added Lightning's fifth try on the hour mark to seal victory although Tigers, who remain eighth, claimed a late consolation through Catha Jacobs.

Amber Reed in action for Bristol Bears
Amber Reed was one of four Bristol try-scorers in their win over Trailfinders [Getty Images]