Challenge Cup Final: Rochdale Hornets Ladies 8 - 50 Whitworth Warriors Ladies

WARLA Women’s Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
Rochdale Hornets Ladies v Whitworth Warriors Ladies

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Whitworth Warriors Ladies outclassed Rochdale Hornets Ladies in the WARLA Women’s Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Featherstone today (Sunday 20 April).

Hornets Terri Davey did her best to rally the Hornets Ladies, and scored two superb individual tries, but there was no doubting the better team won and Jeni Camara and Hayley Spreadborough were outstanding amongst a plethora of superb performances from the Whitworth side.

Coach loads of supporters travelled over the Pennines to The Big Fellas Stadium, home of Featherstone Rovers, and they were treated to a cracking game of rugby by two committed sides.

Whitworth started well with early tries from Jeni Camara and Faye Gaskin.

In the first twenty minutes it looked as though it was going to be all one way traffic and when Natalie Weaving scored the first of her three tries and Leah Day converted it looked ominous for Hornets.

However, urged on by Terri Davey, Hornets dug deep and a series of Whitworth sets close to the Hornets line were repelled with some superb defence.

With half time approaching Hornets were gaining confidence and starting to press the Whitworth defence and when Davey received the ball twenty metres out she jinked her way past three Whitworth defenders to cross the line for her and Hornets first try. Holly Hilton was just short with her conversion attempt.

Half time: Rochdale Hornets Ladies 4 - 14 Whitworth Warriors Ladies

Whitworth started the second half as they did the first, quick on the attack and Weaving powered over for her second try of the game.

Hornets hit back with another outsanding try by Terri Davey. With the ball in her hands the referee gave a penalty to Hornets and quick thinking Davey tapped and ran and before Whitworth could do anything about it Davey had dived over the line for her and Hornets second try.

That was it for the Hornets Ladies scoring wise because Davey's try galvanised Whitworth and they dominated possession from thereon in.

Hornets had no answer to the pace and skill of Jeni Camara and Hayley Spreadborough and they were the catalysts for foray after foray towards the Hornets line.

Melissa Dodman was the first of the Whitworth Ladies to make the pressure pay when she breached the Hornets defence to the delight of her team mates.

Becky Blackburn quickly added another and if it wasn't already clear it was game over for Hornets, it was now and it was a matter of keeping the score as respectable as possible.

Whitworth didn't sit back, they continued to press and the pressure told as Gillian Aspin, Weaving with her third, Camara with her second, Aspin her second and finally Hayley Spreadborough all crossed the line for Whitworth. Joenie Aspin and Gaskin also succeeded with a conversion each.

A truly excellent performance by the experienced Whitworth side gave them a thoroughly deserved cup final victory, for the Hornets Ladies, a superb effort to get to the final in their first season and an experience that will stand them in good stead for the future.

Full Time: Rochdale Hornets Ladies 8 - 50 Whitworth Warriors Ladies

Rochdale Hornets Ladies: Chloe Webster, Codie Migney, Gaynor Ramsbottom, Keeley Ramsbottom, Beth Harris, Terri Davey, Holly Hilton, Kate Stevenson, Sophoe Holden, Lucy Wright, Armanv Khaliq, Hannay Kenton, Beth Russell, Emily Wynn, Hannah Prestwich, Laura Richards, Jennie Slack

Whitworth Warriors Ladies: Jeni Camara, Jen Clarke-Pilling, Mielissa Dodman, Becky Blackburn, Gillian Aspin, Lauren Seddon, Faye Gaskin, Emma Beck, Hayley Spreadborough, Natalie Weaving, Leah Day, Joenie Aspin, Becky Leyland, Elisa Hubbard, Sue Sharrock, Heather Tranter

Referee: Jason Woodman
Touch Judges: Jake Brook & Lindsay Trelford
Reserve: Simon Ellis