Rugby Union: New beginnings bring new stars to Littleborough

In the first-round robin tournaments of the year, a new wave of bright talent has emerged for the girls teams at Littleborough Rugby Union Club.

In an action-packed afternoon in the Sunday drizzle, Littleborough Girls Under 15s lit up the tournament with an unbeaten run that saw them concede only one try.

Courtney Mills scored two tries from inside centre after Ellie Fitzgerald had opened her account for the season with a score down the left-hand touchlin.

Following on from that victory, the Under 15s continued their relentless defence until Liverpool St Helen's found the breakthrough. A team try that saw five pairs of hands touch the ball was neatly finished off by Megan Smith. The difficult conversion slid left of the post.

Boro debutant Kirsty Bella darted in under the sticks. Good phase play build up started by a catch and run by full back Morgan Pearson gave Boro the opening they needed. Ellie Fitzgerald converted to seal a two point victory.

The Under 18s and were met by a much older and experienced Ellesmere Port side in their first game. Losing the game 29-0 flattered the visitors but gave the Littleborough ladies a good benchmark of where they want to be over this new season.

Whatever new manager Simon Levs said before the second game against Burnley had the desired effect as they put in one of the performances of the day. A run by second row Darcy Bowker set free Erin Stott down the right and despite being held up, the centre had the presence of mind to hand off to Hollie Rothwell to score in the corner.

Erin Stott turned try scorer with a strong ru down the left channel, this time after good work from Georgia Turner.

The latter was immense in defence and never let the opposition rest all afternoon and was rewarded with a deserved try of her own. Turner barraged over from the back of a scrum to score Littleborough Under 18s third of the match.

Full back Niamh Mullins stroked the conversation through the posts.

Stott scored a second of the afternoon as she fended off two defenders before sprinting under the posts.

In the final game, the Under 15s had a local grudge match against Rochdale in an entertaining contest.

Littleborough's Georgia Turner burrowed her way under a few despairing tackles on the line to score her second of the afternoon before Darcy Bowker scored the try of the day. The youngster making her under 18s debut brushed off four defenders mid-way in her own half, before showing a fleet of foot a winger would have been proud of to touch down behind the posts.

Littleborough Under 13s had a tough assignment against three mixed teams made up of players from Burnley, Liverpool St Helen's and Huddersfield YMCA. In contrast, the youngest of the Boro girls' only teams had several new players to the sport.

Amongst the try scorers for the Under 13s were Lucy Gregg, Kadie Hoyle and Nieve Clegg.

It could have been even more as the girls lost possession of the ball metres from the try line on several occasions. However, in greasy conditions at a wet Rakewood they acquitted themselves admirably and never gave up.