THATTO Heath ladies beat Featherstone Rovers 18-12 to win the Grand Final.
Callum Hesketh provided us with this match report:
The match started brightly, inside the opening minute Thatto’s Jenny Welsby made the first break before Jodie Cunningham cut back inside and dotted down under the sticks, a superb start for Thatto with Tara Stanley adding the goal 6-0.
On the twenty minute mark Cunningham was over again to further extend Thatto’s lead, a strong run from Lizzie Gladman took Thatto close before Cunningham raced over out wide 10-0.
Featherstone were next on the attack, Thatto fumbled a catch and as a result Featherstone went close to scoring out wide but couldn’t quite keep hold of the ball metres from the line.
Featherstone’s pressure eventually told, Kayleigh Bulman collected a pin point pass from Katie Daniels and scored in the corner 10-4. Before the half was over Thatto extended their lead when they opted to go for the points from a penalty infront of the sticks, Tara Stanley was on target 12-4.
Half time Thatto Heath 12 Featherstone Rovers 4.
Featherstone came out firing in the second half, Katie Cooper-Birkenhead floated a superbly weighted pass out to Grace Field on the wing and she was on the scoreboard 12-8. Featherstone continued to dominate possession but it was Thatto who had the next try scoring chance, from a break away run Sammi Simpson raced upfield but was hauled down inches from the line by Kayleigh Bulman.
However some five minutes later Simpson had her try, first to the kick chase she caught the defence flat footed and sprinted over to score a great try. Tara Stanley added the extras 18-8. Featherstone were not about the give up, Emily Rudge came into the attacking line at pace and scored a well taken try 18-12.
That would prove to be the final score of the afternoon a fitting Championship final with two teams who gave it their all, Thatto Heath deservedly taking the title.
