Rugby league: Mayfield Ladies 52 - 0 Workington

Mayfield Ladies entertained Workington on a warm but eventually very wet Sunday (25 June) afternoon at the Mayfield Sports Centre. 

Mayfield was in control from the off with strong drives from Harriet Widdup and Sarah Bardsley. Workington competed well early on but was rocked by the ferocity of the Mayfield defence. 

Emily Pountain, Nina Brookes and Talena Hartley made an awesome try saving tackle in the first five minutes which made it clear to the visitors that they were in no mood to be allowing their line to be breached.

Workington had brought a big set of forwards for this game and must of thought they were in with a chance of bulldozing Mayfield: they thought again though as Steph Hillen, Jess Hopkins and Shauna Higney tackled them out of the game.

It took 15 minutes for Mayfield to open their account after good breaks from livewire Lily Mangan and Taneka Wellington Brown put them in the danger zone and Sharon Pearson shot through the gap for her first try, converted Widdup, 6 - 0.

Within minutes, a great drive from Brookes saw Mangan get to acting half and dive over from close range, converted Wellington Brown, 12 - 0.

The visitors deserve a lot of credit, they never gave in and pressed the Mayfield line for a while but the blue machine never switched off, Michelle Butterworth, Kirsty Musgrove and Nichol Wild made telling tackles.

With half time fast approaching, Lily Mangan bagged her second of the afternoon, 16 - 0.

Kirsty Moore powered through for a great try converted by Widdup, 22 - 0. 

The second half saw no let-up in the Mayfield defence. Right from the off, Talena Hartley and Hannah Nutter were up in the opposition's faces, ably backed by Kayleigh Hancock. Emily Pountain was unlucky not to score when she was stopped short after a 60m break.

Workington was penalised for a high tackle and Mayfield capitalised three tackles later when Hannah Nutter dived in in the corner, 26 - 0.

Mayfield was almost scoring at will now, and when Sharon Pearson drove through for her second, she made it look easy, 30 - 0.

The Workington side was now in disarray, but they still never took a backward step. Mayfield was rampant though and two quick tries from Wellington Brown and Musgrove the second converted by Widdup made the score 40 - 0.

The rain had started now and it was bouncing down, but this couldn't dampen the Mayfield spirit, as they went from strength to strength. Hopkins epitomised this as she showed a real touch of class as she skipped her way past five defenders and went in under the sticks. Brown added the two, 46 - 0.

Hopkins then scored her second with an almost carbon copy try out of absolutely nothing, converted by Widdup, 52 - 0 and the game was over.

This was a really entertaining game of rugby league and it was much appreciated by the large crowd who were very vocal in their support. There were some outstanding performances right across the pitch, just showing how far this side has come in such a short time.

Steph Hillen and Jess Hopkins were inspirational in the halfs while Sarah Bardsley and Sharon Pearson put in a great shift. Player of the game, as awarded by the coaches, was split between Nina 'The Warhorse' Brookes and Lily Mangan, who were outstanding.

The only down side on the day was the injury to Shauna Higney who sustained a broken collar bone which may end up needing an operation. The whole of the Mayfield club wishes Shauna a speedy recovery.