Workington Zebra Finches rounded off their league season with an excellent 34-0 victory at Upper Eden Eagles, writes John Hastings.
It was their first victory in Division 2 North since January – ironically against the Eagles, 25-0 at The Ellis.
It was also the perfect preparation ahead of their date with destiny at Twickenham in the RFU Junior Plate Final against Avonmouth Claires on May 1.
The Finches made a dream start from kick-off, when their opening punt was fumbled by an Eagles player and from the resulting scrum Juliet Porter offloaded to Nicole Stewart, who wasted no time in going under the posts to score and set up an easy conversion.
Workington increased their lead barely two minutes later, when Stewart’s exquisite long-range punt was chased down by Megan Donald, who trapped the ball in time to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.
The Finches were in control of the game and but for the Eagles’ desperate, but efficient defending against the onslaught, they could have been further ahead.
However, Upper Eden rode the storm to their advantage and from about 20 minutes began to make inroads of their own into Workington territory with excellent play from Lucy Hogg, Ella Fahy and Lucy Branthwaite.
It put the visitors on the back foot but the hosts just fell within touching distance of the try line on two occasions, thwarted by the visitors’ ever-alert defensive rearguard.
For all the Eagles’ dominance, it was the Finches who almost had the last word on the stroke of half time when Donald went over, only for the try to be wiped off due to the referee spotting a forward pass in the build-up.
But Workington were not to be denied and just as they did at the start of the first half, so they scored early once the second half kicked off.
After two minutes, from the first scrum, Stewart sprinted away unchallenged before offloading the ball to captain Charlotte Cammack, who fiercely shrugged off a last-ditch challenge go down for her signature “Lottie’s Slamdown” try. Once again, the conversion attempt fell just short.
Upper Eden were not going to surrender and again took the game to the visitors with more well drilled passing and running that tested the Finches to stretching point.
It was Hogg who very nearly delivered what would have been a “Champagne Moment” as she picked the ball deep in her own half and proceeded to go on a dazzling solo run that left her opponents flailing, only to be brought down with the try line at her mercy.
Amazingly, this was the Eagles’ first game in two months but based on their long periods of dominance in both halves, it was like they’d been playing every Sunday.
Then, just after the hour mark, after soaking up that pressure, Workington delivered the perfect sucker punch with a brilliant attacking surge which saw the Stewart – Cammack double act produce a second try for the captain and this time Stewart smoothly added the conversion.
Frustration and tiredness were both starting to creep into the Eagles as Workington tightened their grip and ten minutes from time an out-of-character infringement by the hosts led to them conceding a penalty which Stewart effortlessly converted.
Upper Eden were now running on empty, praying for the referee to blow for time and they got their wish – but only after another Finches try on the stroke of full time.
They won yet another scrum and the ball found Porter who galloped home unopposed to touch down between the posts and cue up another easy conversion for Stewart.
This convincing victory for Workington sees them finish fifth in their maiden season in Division 2 North and although there were moments where they came dangerously close to conceding at least one try, they can take pride on keeping a clean sheet.
Most importantly, they can now concentrate on resting and making final preparations for Twickenham.
It was heart-warming to see captain Charlotte Cammack return with two tries after a spell out injured and Nicole Stewart combed just about every blade of grass from start to finish. She thoroughly deserved being named Opposition Player Of The Match by Upper Eden.
But above all, every Finches player is on good form and the team is in a fabulous place, fully confident of writing another historical and memorable chapter in their history at Twickenham on 1st May with the town of Workington behind them.
