Panthers Penrith edged Upper Eden Eagles 15-13 in the first women’s derby, played at Winter’s Park.
Both teams have had good pre-seasons with numbers growing at training hence them both having squads of 22 for the game.
The Eagles started off quickly when Lucy Branthwaite put a kick down field which Ella Fahy gathered and off-loaded to Clare Powell who went over to score. Branthwaite added the conversion.
This woke-up the Panthers and they scored a similar try when Caitlin Wood kicked the ball wide and Rach Byers chased it down to score.
The game was a battle and both sides were giving it their all.
The Eagles were next to capitalise when Chloe Capstick was yellow carded for a high tackle, and Branthwaite slotted the penalty.
Three minutes later the Panthers scored again after they were awarded a penalty which was kicked deep into the Eagles half where Katie Jackson powered over to score.
The Panthers were gaining momentum and from the re-start Byers took the ball and broke through the chasing defence, gaining a lot of ground before being brought down.
From the breakdown the ball was moved to Di Hetherington who quickly tipped it on to Karen Phillips-Craig who drew her defender before she put Heather Grainger in space to sprint away and score.
Five minutes later Branthwaite reduced the arrears with another penalty taking the score to 15-13 at half time.
The second half was a nail biter in which neither team scored another point.
The Panthers were looking strong, dominating the territory and the possession but couldn’t capitalize on it with points.
The Eagles didn’t give up either. Branthwaite putting a series of kicks down field trying to gain territory but the speed of the Panthers back three kept running it back into their half.
It was a great spectacle for the supporters both teams showing what they are made of and giving everything they have for their teams.
Forward of the match for the Panthers was Katie Jackson, carrying hard every time she had the ball. She always made ground when she had the ball.
Back of the match was Heather Grainger, as in attack she constantly straightened up the line to create the space on the outside.
Upper Eden chose Rach Byers as Penrith’s player of the match with pace to burn every time she got the ball and who regularly made line breaks.
