Sunday was a big day for Thatto Heath with a league game against Wigan St Patricks followed by a game against the French Champions.
First up the league game against Wigan St Pats Ladies. It was very close at half time, St Pats had raced into a 8 point lead, but the young Thatto Heath team dug deep and turned it into a 16 – 8 half time lead. Both teams demonstrating a high level of skill and determination. It was only in the final 20 minutes that Thatto Heath found their stride and created a lead that couldn’t be reach. The game was won 38-24.
Try scorers for Thatto Heath were Pip Birchall, Jodie Cunningham, Carys Marsh, Emily Rudge, two for Naomi Williams and one for Tara Stanley who also converted four times with Rachel Thompson one, with young prop forward Casey Naylor picking up the player of the game award for Thatto Heath and Claire Mullaney getting the Wigan St Pats vote for player of the game.
This game provided the perfect first game of the afternoon and set the stage for the Women’s Hanstock Timber and Fencing European Challenge against the French side Biganos Xiii. With support from the likes of Angela Powers (Sky Sports), Pat Crawshaw (President of the women’s rugby league) and Saints Levy Nzoungou and Regan Grace to name but a few.
Both sides played with passion and commitment throughout the game but it was Thatto Heath who were winners on the day by 52-6. The game was played in great spirit throughout and some great skill was on show.
Tries came from Jodie Cunningham, Sammi Simpson with four, Roxy Mura, Faye Gaskin, Danni Bound, Katie-May Williams, Rachel Thompson and Tara Stanley who also converted four tries. With the player of the game award going to Faye Gaskin who had a great game and controlled the game very well. Other stand out performances where from Sammi Simpson and Roxy Mura.
Pat Crawshaw commented that “The two games of rugby league, in front of a sizeable, knowledgeable crowd was a great advert for the Women’s Game. The high score for Thatto Heath in the European Challenge belied the commitment and sportsmanship shown by the French opposition who I am sure gained a great deal from the encounter. Credit should go to Thatto Heath ARL for hosting this admirable event and for their continued support of the female game.”
Mark Brennan, coach for Thatto Heath Ladies said “It was a great day for the club, with over 200 people there to watch and support the Women’s game it was a great event. I would like to thank the Biganos team for making the trip over to play the game and they gave a spirited performance and never gave up until the end.
“From my point of view I am extremely proud of the effort all the players put in over the 2 games to come away with a league win against a good St Pats team and then to win the European Challenge against the French champions was outstanding. This ranks as a great achievement and shows how much we have come on as a team. In the game against Wigan St Pats we had 2 players on debut in Olivia and Abi and the average age of that team was 19 which stands us in a good position for the future.”
He went on to say “Our next challenge is to go into the next part of the season and maintain our good form, we have a tough home game against Bradford Bulls in 2 weeks time, they have also had an unbeaten start to the season so it should be another great game of Women’s Rugby at Crusader Park.”
It really was truly fantastic afternoon for women’s rugby league and rugby league as a whole. Congratulations to Thatto Heath Ladies who are now the European Club Champions!
Report and photos courtesy of Thatto Heath Ladies
