Defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury maintained their winning start to the season with a 27-18 bonus-point win at Harlequins.

The visitors raced into an early lead at Twickenham Stoop after Amy Dale’s converted try in the third minute, but they were reduced to 14 players soon after when Charlie Woodman was sent to the sin-bin.

Quins capitalised as Ella Cromack kicked a penalty before Freya Aucken’s try handed the hosts a slender lead at the break.

Gloucester regained the lead after the interval through Emma Sing’s try before Ellena Perry stretched their advantage and Woodman secured the bonus.

Quins salvaged a late consolation through Maja Meuller but fell to a second defeat in as many games, while Gloucester remain unbeaten.

Meanwhile, Saracens also kept up their early-season form with a thumping 52-14 bonus-point win at Sale Sharks.

Despite Isla Alejandro’s early yellow card, Saracens scored the opening try through Akina Gondwe before May Campbell added a second minutes later.

Alejandro returned to the field to score their third and Jemma-Jo Linkins wrapped up the bonus point inside 35 minutes.

The onslaught continued in the second half when Poppy Cleall crashed over before Leanne Infante scored Sarries’ sixth try.

Sale registered their first points in the 55th minute through Sophie Hopkins but the visitors hit back with Linkins’ second try.

With the game out of sight for Sale, Nikita Prothero scored a consolation try before Daisy Fitzgerald added an eighth try, providing further gloss to the scoreline for unbeaten Sarries, who top the table by virtue of a better points difference than Gloucester.