Trailfinders Women ended the first stage of the Allianz Cup with a 31-12 defeat at the hands of the Loughborough Lightning.

A brace from Ellen Scantlebury, along with tries from Abby Duguid, Bo Westcombe-Evans and Lucia Linn, gave the home side the victory. The try scorers were Rowena Burnfield and Rosie Inman.

Trailfinders now look forward to the Allianz PWR and their first game against Harlequins on the 18th of November.

The first half was a tense affair, but it did not start that way.

Straight from the kick-off, the Lightning won the ball back and almost instantly scored through lock Duguid.

After the setback, Trailfinders found their footing in the match, and from then on, it would be a bit-part occasion.

The ball rarely stayed off the floor for sustained periods, and the half became characterised by the set pieces.

Loughborough struggled to win their own ball off the lineout, and the away side were able to win the territory battle as a result of the home side’s inaccuracy.

This would eventually lead to their first score of the game. Burnfield charged down an Amalia Green kick in unison with Shya Pinnock, regathering to dot down with ease.

That would lead to the end of the first half, after which the Lightning would run away with it.

Trailfinders suffered injury after injury, and the substitutes bench could not deal with the sheer number of players needing treatment.

The effect on the squad would leave players out of position, resulting in a number of Lightning tries. Scantlebury went over in the corner twice in quick succession to take the game away, and Westcombe-Evans and Linn would finish off the job.

The time was not up, however, and Trailfinders carried on pushing forward. Liz Crake broke the line and produced a stunning out-the-back offload to Ella Amory, who fed Inman in at the corner.

That consolation score would bring us to full-time and leave Trailfinders Women looking forward to The Takeoff on the 18th of November.