BARLA Ladies County of Origin Final - match report

[Honor James]

YORKSHIRE LADIES 10  :  LANCASHIRE LADIES 4

LoveRugbyLeague.com Stadium (Batley Bulldogs RLFC)

The Xamax Ladies County of Origin Challenge between Yorkshire Ladies and Lancashire Ladies started in heavy rain and finished in a damper, as following two lengthy injuries to two Lancashire players, one still receiving onfield treatment the game was abandoned for health and safety reasons.

At that stage Yorkshire led 10-4 and that result was allowed to stand which means the ‘White Rose’ levelled the series up to 2-2 with the ‘Red Rose’ county.

In a game wham all players gave their all Yorkshire fullback Katei Hepworth was outstanding in both attack and defence scoring and creating the team’s second try and kicking a conversion and was named as player of the match.

During another tough, physical no holds barred confrontation in dreadful conditions ball retention was difficult with the ball going to ground and Lancashire playing down the infamous slope lost the ball in the early minutes of the contest.

Yorkshire forced Lancashire to drop out and on that next set they were held. Lancashire got the ball back ten metres from their own line but knocked and on the third tackle following the scrum Emma Hodgson found Lauren Rouse who scored out wide after five minutes. Hepworth converted from out wide to make it 6-0.

Lancashire came back into the game albeit slowly but with player coach Joenie Aspin orchestrating her side they were downfield for a lengthy period in the Yorkshire twenty but couldn’t turn pressure into points.

On 25 minutes Yorkshire against run of play as Dani Rose made a break out from her half but was hit high resulting in a penalty. On their next set they marched up to the Lancashire tryline and from the play the ball Hepworth drove over to make it 10-0.

With several stoppages the game went into injury time and following a great break from Lancashire’s Becky Blackburn Aspin and Hayley Hilton combined for Natalie Weaving to crash over.

In the second half Lancashire continued to press and only a superb tackle from Hodgson on Faye Gaskin stopped her cutting the lead on 50 minutes. Lancashire then forced Yorkshire to drop out but with resolute defending they held firm.

On 55 minutes the first stoppage came as Yorkshire were attacking in the Lancashire half and on resumption later in the game another injury brought a halt to the game and Yorkshire were declared the winners.

YORKSHIRE LADIES: Katie Hepworth, Dani Rose, Kelly Hall, Lauren Rouse, Dominque Algar, Emma Hodgson, Katie Langan, Debbie Smith, Lucy Eastwood, Carly Hilton, Cat Bell, Lisa Taylor, Sarah Fletcher. Subs: Stacey Wilson, Kirsty Hodgson, Claire Hunter, Amy Boardman, Donna Hogan, Lindsey Cunnett, Kirsty Nicholson.

Tries: Rouse, Hepworth  : Goals: Hepworth ½

LANCASHIRE LADIES: Chloe Webster, Jen Clarke Pilling, Laura Richards, Becky Blackburn, Gillian Aspin, Faye Gaskin, Holly Hilton, Emma Beck, Hayley Spreadborough, Nat Weaving, Armarnie Khaliq, Lucy Wright, Joenie Aspin. Subs: Claire Rigby, Emily Lynn, Mandy Eyres, Jenny Slack, Leah Day, Heather Trantor.

Tries: Weaving  :  

Referee: Tara Jones  :  Touch Judges: Lindsay Trelford, Becky Whiteley   :   Fourth Official: Rachel Timpson.

Player of the Match: Katie Hepworth (Yorkshire Ladies)