Rugby Union: Littleborough Ladies U18s 64 - 17 Old Crossleyans

Littleborough RUFC

Littleborough Under 18s Ladies soared to dizzy heights with an emphatic 64-17 victory over Old Crossleyans.

The home side playing at Rakewood for the first time this calendar year faced a Yorkshire side largely depleted due to county commitments.

In what turned out to be an almost sevens match with two Littleborough girls playing for the opposition, the contest though one sided in score was actually fought in a hugely competitive nature.

Once the home side scored through captain Chloe Boardman as she ghosted down the left wing, they would not surrender the lead again.

In part that was owed to the work of talismanic Erin Stott, who turned the opposition sick with her mesmerising bursts and scintillating pace. The 16-year-old had scored a hat-trick by the close of the second quarter.

The rest of Danny Lawlor's team were determined to join in on the fun and Grace Shepherd danced her way through the Old Crossleyans defence, before good work from Niamh Mullins set up Boardman for a second; this time down the right. Mullins also deserved plaudits for a stunning conversion of Shepherd's try in blustery spring conditions.

Three tries for Old Crossleyans narrowed the lead and made everyone in attendance wonder if they just might stage an almighty comeback.

However, a few minutes later nerves were calmed as diminutive Maisie Webb who had been quiet until this point outpaced Stott (now playing for Old Crossleyans) to touch down for another.

In the fourth quarter and with the scoreboard showing a healthy 47-15 lead to the hosts, it would have been easy for Littleborough's Pink Warriors to step off the gas.

However, when Holly Rothwell found herself with space on the outside to outpace the defence, there was no going back.

Team mate Stott who had returned from her stint for Old Crossleyans crossed for Littleborough's fourth after Boardman had done the damage and opened up the gap.

In the final action of a breathless afternoon's entertainment, a great crunching tackle from Megan Greenwood helped Nayab Mehak turn over the ball and she supplied the ever-grateful Shepherd.