Rugby Union: Littleborough Warriers U15 dominate against Burnley

Four tries for Kirsty Bella and a spectacular first of the season for Rowan Kean saw Littleborough Under 15 girls dominate the Burnley pitch and play.

Fielding a near full strength team, Littleborough went up against players from Preston Grasshoppers, Orrell, Rochdale and the hosts Burnley.

In the afternoon sunshine that had risen over Prairie Avenue, Littleborough settled any pre-game jitters with a composed and imperious performance against Preston Grasshoppers in a cracking first game.

Littleborough winger Molly Yates opened proceedings with a trademark burst down the right wing that saw Hoppers’ defenders clutching at straws.

She was soon followed by Ella Fearnley, who darted in the left hand corner as Littleborough's pink warriors continued to press and unnerve their opponents.

Come the second half of game one, Littleborough continued in the same vain as they broke a stubborn Hoppers defence to score. Over eight phases of possession from a turnover gave Ellie Fitzgerald an opportunity to pick and go from the bottom of the ruck and she slid under the tacklers to score.

There was some limelight for Preston as the fly half dodged and danced her way through an otherwise impenetrable Littleborough defence.

Littleborough Under 15s had no time to rest as they went straight into the second game against a mixed team made of Rochdale, Orrell, Burnley and Preston Grasshoppers.

Like the first game Littleborough would dominate with Grace Harris, Lily Galvin. and Amy Perren all making inroads with ball in hand. While sisters Tilda and Tallulah Robinson-Burgess, along with Courtney Mills, disrupted the opposition with a series of important tackles and turnovers.

Despite this, the mixed side took the lead with two early tries as defensive lapses cost Littleborough.

The Under 15s stayed calm and composed to seize control for the rest of the match.

Second row Bella capitalised on turnover ball to scorch away for the first of her four.

Bella's combination play in attack alongside Fearnley worked a treat again as she scored again down the left hand side.

The half time break brought no respite for the home team as Bella went onto complete her hat trick with a blistering turn of speed.

What was to follow brought the loudest cheer of the afternoon as Rowan Kean scored her first of the season with a powerful run through five defenders.

There was even time for Bella to register a fourth with a huge bump off in the build-up and fly half Ebony Clegg to get her rewards for a good performance with the fifth for her side.

Coaches Sarah Mansfield and Jordan Shaw were delighted with the way in which the girls held the ball well and executed the game plan superbly.