Amateur game: Women’s Rugby League round-up

THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS accounted for BRADFORD CLAYTON THUNDERBIRDS 32-24 in Sunday’s RFL WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP FINAL at Dewsbury Rams, and FEATHERSTONE ROVERS beat STANNINGLEY 64-14 in the CHALLENGE SHIELD FINAL.

Becca Bird reports..

Bradford opened the scoring with a well taken try for Charlotte Booth, but it was not long before this was countered by Thatto Heath when Alex Simpson crossed to level.

Bradford’s Lois Forsell was next to cross before Thatto Heath took the lead for the first time with a converted try for Jenny Pendlebury.

Thatto further stretched their lead with a second try for Alex Simpson but the game was far from done, as was proved when Forsell crossed for her second.

The yoyo nature of the match continued, when Thatto’s Jodie Cunningham touched down, only for Forsell to notch her third of the afternoon, Rhiannon Marshall adding her second conversion to level at 20-20.

The Heath regained the lead when Emily Rudge surged over the line, and the advantage was extended to 10 points when Tara Jones raced over.

Bradford, however, were not about to give up, registering a final try through Charlene Henegan, but the final say went to Thatto Heath when Faye Gaskin stepped up to slot a penalty – her fifth goal – to seal a deserved win in which the Crusaders’ Amy Smith was the Player of the Match.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS, meanwhile, were only 18-14 ahead at the break against STANNINGLEY before cruising to a 64-14 success.

Rovers’ Andrea Dobson opened the scoring before Stanningley hit back in quick succession with tries by Sarah Dunn and Jodie Litherland to take a 10-6 lead. Featherstone regrouped and regained the lead with a try for Kayleigh Bulman, and further extended their lead when Natalie Gilmour crossed shortly afterwards.

However Stanningley replied with an Ellanor Trumper try, Litherland adding her second goal to peg Featherstone back to four points at half-time.

Rovers, though, fired out of the blocks on the restart, Bulman and Dobson quickly netting their second touchdowns.

Brogan Churm bagged a quick brace, Bulman added the last two of her four tries, and Gilmour (who kicked nine goals) crossed for her second, with Katie Cooper Birkenhead adding a conversion.