Carlisle Cougars completed a seasonal double when they beat Darlington 31-5 and their own losing sequence.
Before the game both teams and officials observed a minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday.
Even though the Cougars won their first match of the season against Darlington they were expecting it to be tougher against a stronger line-up.
They started really well by scoring a try by fly-half Philippa Chadwick within the first five minutes, but they then faced a Darlington onslaught.
Eventually the equalising try came from a scrum five meters away from their try line when the Cougars winger was left on her own and they took advantage.
But Carlisle hit back quickly with two tries by speedy centre Bethan Lloyd as she made clean breaks through the defence and scored directly under the posts, for Ash Hendrie to convert.
Taking a 19-5 lead into the break was very encouraging for Carlisle but Darlington were not going to go down without a fight.
The scrums were very closely contested by both teams and it was the same with the line-outs although many ended in mauls.
It took a brilliant side-step from Kim Fitzmaurice to get Carlisle moving again with another try which went unconverted.
Emotions were running high from both sides which caused some scrappy rugby but Carlisle kept there discipline to gain another try from Lloyd which was converted by Hendrie.
Delighted though the Cougars were to end their losing sequence they still have much to learn and take forward to the next game which is December 4 at Blaydon.
Players of the match awards went to: Back of the match: Emma Copeland; Forward of the match: Kim Fitzmaurice and the Opposition choice as player of the match: Bethan Lloyd.
This coming Saturday, November 19, the Carlisle rugby club is holding the Warrior Camp run by Emily Scarratt, an England legend, to provide an opportunity for women and girls of all abilities to try out rugby..
It starts at 10am it starts and some of our Cougars will be there and willing to chat with anyone needing advice or more information.
