WOMEN’S AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE ASSOCIATION FINALS DAY
CHALLENGE CUP
FARNLEY FALCONS 16 WIGAN ST JUDES 14
PHIL HODGSON, Millennium Stadium, Featherstone, Sunday
A SENSATIONAL solo try by Faye Barraclough five minutes from time steered the Falcons to victory against a Judes outfit that, boosted by six successive penalties, had recovered from eight points down to go 14-12 up.
There was nothing on when Barraclough received possession in her own half. Not for most players, anyway. But the fullback, who had been a real threat throughout, broke the first line of defence, tore down the Post Office Road flank and, rounding the cover, approached Judes fullback Anna Dennis with support on her inside.
With the tryline in her sights Barraclough opted to complete the job in hand and, bamboozling Dennis, raced the last 15 metres for a touchdown that may well rank alongside any seen on this famous ground.
Rachel Edwards, who was off target with all of her four difficult conversion attempts, was unable to add the extras but it didn’t matter. Farnley, who had struggled to deal with Wigan’s restarts throughout, smothered the kick-off and kept the Saints at bay for the rest of the contest.
Barraclough had, even before her moment of glory, been a real contender for the player of the match, arguably ahead of Judes’ two-try stand-off Charlize Magraw.
Farnley had gone in front in the 13th minute, through Brooke Price. Wigan levelled six minutes later when Magraw charged through, Hollie Gregory being unable to convert.
Three minutes before the break, Barraclough rounded the Judes defence for an 8-4 lead and five minutes after the resumption Moore crossed off Aitken’s pass to put Farnley in control at 12-4.
What looked like a serious leg injury to Gregory led to a five-minute delay following which Maddison Higson ploughed in for Judes, Bethany Hayes missing the goal.
Farnley’s Ella Cessford was yellow-carded as the game went into the final quarter for an indiscretion in the tackle and although the Falcons held out in her absence, Judes nosed in front when Magraw crashed over under the posts and Gregory added the pressure cooker conversion.
But the spoils, thanks to Barraclough, were to rest with the Leeds outfit.
FALCONS: Faye Barraclough, Tilly Davies, Brooke Price, Kara Moore, Jenny Young, Abigail Simpson, Laura Dyson, Ella Cessford, Evie Crowther, Lyndsey Cunnett, Isabelle Asquith, Kelly Aitken, Rachel Eastwood. Subs: Olivia Crowther, Millie Dearn, Jasmine Rowlands, Codie Whitemen.
SAINTS: Anna Dennis, Claire Taylor, Katie Tymon, Britnie Hammond, Evie Price-Horrocks, Charlize Magraw, Bethany Hayes, Jazzmine Mason, Hollie Gregory, Leah Smith, Victoria Rosevere, Louise Boardman, Lindsey Butler. Subs: Maddison Hickman, Maddison Price, Jena Monks, Caitlin McArdle-Grundy.
Referee: Nigel Eaton
PLATE
MIRFIELD 32 YORK ACORN 0
PHIL HODGSON, Millennium Stadium, Featherstone, Sunday
HOOKER Annabel Loney grabbed a hat-trick as Mirfield posted a comprehensive victory over an Acorn outfit that, despite the efforts of Yvette Shepherd and Natalie Ward, never quite got going.
Mirfield, playing up the slope, were 18-0 ahead after 22 minutes, having posted four tries. And although York subsequently offered stronger resistance – and even came close to scoring as the interval beckoned, when a telling kick by Teri Chu wasn’t taken by Caroline Longley – there was never any doubt regarding the outcome.
Chloe Brown set the agenda in the third minute, powering over off Anna Simpson’s pass.
Allana Waller crossed in the corner five minutes later, from an arcing run, and Mirfield were 14 points clear by the twelfth minute, Brown adding the extras after Annabel Loney had scooted in from dummy-half.
Loney grabbed her second score – again from short range – as the opening period reached the midway point, Casey Rhodes missing the conversion attempt on the sole occasion that Brown didn’t assume the kicking duties.
Acorn, awarded their first penalty on 26 minutes (for a high tackle, by which stage Mirfield were 4-0 ahead on that tally) began to settle somewhat but still lacked the cohesion needed to seriously threaten Mirfield’s line.
Mirfield, who had impressive performers in Gabrielle Kaney, Amy Boardman and Charlotte Hawkins, notched their first try for over half an hour when Rhodes scythed through York’s defence on 54 minutes.
Simpson was yellow-carded as the hour beckoned, taking exception to an Acorn defender after having been brought down following a 30-metre raid, but Mirfield brushed aside the setback to close on a high with Rhodes’ second try and Loney’s hat-trick effort.
MIRFIELD: Allana Walker, Amelia Lister, Kelsie Ratcliffe, Toni Frost, Sophie Hoyle, Anna Simpson, Casey Rhodes, Amy Ratcliffe, Annabel Loney, Chloe Brown, Gabrielle Kaney, Amy Boardman, Charlotte Hawkins. Subs: Shelley Brook, Nicole Hirst, Kim Medlock, Mya Taylor.
ACORN: Teri Chu, Emily Owen, Amelia Hartley, Frances Aaron, Toni Fahey, Lily Dixon, Sophie Langan, Alice Ward-Smith, Natalie Ward, Rachel Legg, Caroline Longley, Naome Laeton, Deanna Limbert. Subs: Yvette Shepherd, Carrianne Asquith, Maddison Champion-Gregory, Ellie Green.
Referee: Emma Breheney