With Saracens falling to Harlequins, Loughborough Lightning sensed their opportunity and moved to the top of the Tyrrells Premier 15s table with a 59-3 win against Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.

Charlotte Pearce scored a hat-trick, including the first of the match after five minutes – one of three tries in the first 12 minutes in a rapid start by the hosts.

The Sharks could not get out of their half and that pressure led to more tries, with centre Cath O’Donnell and Becky Noon also on the scoresheet as Lightning scored six by half time.

That put them 40 points clear and they kept their foot on the gas after the break, with Pearce waltzing through the Sharks defence to add another before completing her hat-trick.

Bethan Zeidler added gloss to the scoreline before the Sharks got their only points via a Beth Blacklock penalty three minutes from time – but the day belonged to Loughborough, the only unbeaten side left in the division.