Leicester Tigers were first on the board at Franklin’s Gardens, home to Loughborough Lightning, as Georgie Lingham scored in the fourth minute of the game.

Plunged into her Premiership debut by an early substitution, Loughborough full-back Lucia Scott scored with her first touch in the league, showing pace to dot down a grubber provided by club veteran Bo Westcombe-Evans.

It was a productive afternoon for Westcombe-Evans who, on her 50th appearance for Loughborough, crossed four times to claim half of the hosts’ eight-try haul.

There were signs of hope for bottom-placed Tigers, who scored three tries for just the second time this season, and had a fourth – a cheeky set-piece – ruled out for a knock-on before the break.

With a burst of pace, Tigers’ Jemima McCalman also came close to advancing the visitors’ bid for a bonus point in the second half – but was denied by a try-saving tackle from debutant Scott, 21.

The Tigers’ hunt for a first point of the season continues as Loughborough ended the East Midlands derby 38-10 winners.

“That was a lot of fun,” Westcombe-Evans said after the game. “It meant a lot to me on my 50th cap.”

“I hoped to score one or two, but four is pretty cool.”