Workington Town Ladies launched their first competitive season with a convincing 38-16 win over Newcastle Thunder at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
The Ladies are part of the new Town revolution and are now planning for the return game at Kingston Park on Sunday, July 30.
If they come through that successfully they will have a final showdown with the successful side from the south, and hopefully next year will be involved in a structured league programme.
The victory over Thunder was really secured in the first-half when Town had built-up a 32-4 lead by the break.
They came-out a bit slow in the second-half and Newcastle got back into it with thre unconverted tries as the hosts gave away some silly penalties.
But Town dug in and regained control to see out the victory, adding just one more try – their seventh – to the total.
The player of the game went to skipper, half-back Laura Ivison while the coach’s player of the game was awarded to second row forward Lauren Fryer-Bold.
It was Fryer-Bold who went into the record books by scoring the Ladies’ first ever official try – a double whammy for future quiz enthusiasts as it was also the first try scored at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
The second try soon followed as Rachel Wood showed the importance of backing-up, with Ivison adding the conversion.
The lead was stretched to 16-0 when Lauren Wilkinson went in for the third try and Ivison converted, before Newcastle came back with an unconverted try.
Then came the best try of the game from Georgina Porter. It followed a kick through which she chased, hacked it on and then dived on the ball over the line with Ivison converting.
There was a long-range interception try from Ivison, which she converted herself, and before half-time Elsa Whelan was backing up when Wood kicked through, to grab the sixth touchdown which was unconverted.
The only Town try in the second-half was scored by Wilkinson, which Ivison converted.
Overall it was a satisfying performance from the Town side with their forwards dominating proceedings, continually making good yards and making life easier for the backs.
Ivison said: “It was great to start with a win. The forwards did a fantastic job and it was pleasing to see all our subs making an impact on the game when they came on.
“We are really looking forward to the return at Newcastle at the end of the month.”
