It was Sunday afternoon on the 29th January and it was the eagerly anticipated County of Origin final at the Big Fella Stadium, Featherstone. Both Yorkshire and Lancashire had trained hard for this battle and with Yorkshire leading the completion 3-2 there was a lot at stake.
Yorkshire (Photo: Ainsley Bennett)
A large crowd had gathered to watch the clash, and as both teams took to the field a large cheer went up. Lancashire playing up hill received the kick off from Yorkshire and the game was on.
A deep kick saw Lancashire start their first attack on their own 10m line. They only managed to get to the third tackle off the first set before the first injury. Gail Johnson going into the tackle awkwardly and receiving a head injury. Thankfully all was fine and game carried on with Lancashire completing and getting a good kick into open field. Yorkshire also completed their first attacking set and the early nerves from both teams seem to disappear.
Lancashire (Photo: Ainsley Bennett)
With the teams finding it hard to make any progress against their opposition all the play was in the middle sector, good defence kept out probing runs from both sides. The penalty count now started to climb as the teams had to adapt their style to accommodate their rivals. Yorkshire mounted an attack 10 minutes into the first half, getting a penalty on the first tackle, they were soon in the Lancashire 30m. Another penalty and they were on the 10m knocking at the Lancashire door.
Good drives from from the forwards Cheryl Armitage and Amy Ratcliffe only ended in Yorkshire been held up over the line. Getting another repeat set they couldn’t batter Lancashire down and relinquished possession of the ball on the 3rd tackle.
Photo: Ainsley Bennett
Twenty minutes gone and Lancashire found themselves with an attacking scrum on their own 30m line. Suddenly with quick hands they were making good yards. Catching Yorkshire scrambling, Lancashire broke away with a 40m dash, scoring in the corner with Michele Larkin, conversion attempt off the try line successful by Charlotte Foley.
Score Yorkshire 0 Lancashire 6
Yorkshire were ruffled by the quick try but soon galvanised and came back with force. First with Ruby Magson using her strength and speed to make 15m, then Claire Barnes doing the same. A ball steal gave Yorkshire a great opportunity to get on the score sheet and they weren’t going to mess this up. They worked the ball off the scrum 40m out with Rachel Barker, pushed hard and Debbie Smith found the line. Reagan Walker’s conversion attempt falling just short of the sticks.
Score Yorkshire 4 Lancashire 6
With 30 minutes gone both teams were starting to fatigue, but they all knew what was at stake so carried on with as much tenacity as they could muster. Sammy Crane for Yorkshire and Naomi Williams for Lancashire both standing out as the game started to get heated, both teams putting in big hits.
Photo: Ainsley Bennett
Lancashire playing quickly out of their own 40m saw Yorkshire off side, penalty. Then another, and soon enough they were on the Yorkshire 20m. Passing the ball down the line through 4 sets of hands and Alex Simpson crossed at the corner. Conversion wide.
Score Yorkshire 4 Lancashire 10
The score line stayed at this for the next 5 minutes and the ref blew for half time.
Second half
Yorkshire now playing up hill had a lot of work to do, but a 6 points lead was not an impossible task. Yorkshire attacked only to find themselves pushed into touch.
Lancashire now seemed happy to complete their sets and get to kick, building a platform and applying pressure. Time and again Yorkshire found it hard to keep possession, knocking on the next 4 times they attacked. All this compounded the Yorkshire situation and Lancashire sensed it. Attacking the line with Sara Lovejoy and Chloe Hammond the pressure resulted in a Yorkshire dropout. Lancashire knocked on and Yorkshire got a reprieve.
On the next Lancashire attack the ball ran dead in goal and Yorkshire have to come back off their own 20m; getting a penalty early in the tackle count but failing to make yards then knocking on.
Photo: Ainsley Bennett
Lancashire scrum in their own half, working off the base then down the middle. The ball worked left, then right, before Tara Jones came onto a beautiful ball to score just to the left of the posts. Conversion good from Alex Simpson.
Score Yorkshire 4 Lancashire 16
Receiving the kick Lancashire were far from done, and once again came down the left channel. A penalty 20m out and Yorkshire just couldn’t hold them out. Alex Simpson scoring the Lancashire 4th try. Conversion wide.
Score Yorkshire 4 Lancashire 20
Player of the Match Jess Hopkins (Photo: Ainsley Bennett)
Yorkshire refused to throw in the towel and were now giving everything they had left. Strong running from Reagan Walker, Rachael Barker, Nyanja Maponga and Cheryl Armitage was met with equal force by Gemma Hennessy, Tara Jones, Hayley Fielding and Michelle Woodcock. With Yorkshire tying to bully down the middle, and Lancashire equal to the task it was stalemate with the forwards. In the dying seconds Lancashire got a penalty 30m out. Opting to kick to run the clock down, penalty missed.
Full time was called on another great game of women’s rugby league.
Final score: Yorkshire 4 Lancashire 20
This was a tremendous game played by both teams, the battle taking place for 80% of it in the middle sector. Commiserations to Yorkshire who fought well. Congratulations on the winners, Lancashire, stood up to all that was thrown at them and came out victorious.
Match report Jon Harrison – Coach of Hunslet Warriors
Photo: Ainsley Bennett
