Carlisle Cougars played their latest game as part of a double header with the senior men’s side at Warwick Road.
While the Cougars were able to celebrate a 24-12 win over Broughton Park Ladies, the men were well beaten 58-7 by Keswick.
The Cougars secured a well-earned victory in a match that saw plenty of early drama and a nail-biting finish.
The game began with a bang as Broughton Park Ladies took the early lead.
Within minutes they breached the Cougars defence to cross for the first try of the match. Although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, it seemed as though the visitors might take control.
However, Carlisle responded swiftly, with full-back Josie Scrimgour, a stand-out player throughout the match, breaking through the defensive line to score a try of her own. There was no conversion but the sides were level.
Broughton Park weren’t ready to relinquish the lead just yet, and they struck again, scoring a second try to regain the advantage and for good measure landed the conversion for a 12-5 lead.
However, Carlisle’s defensive line was beginning to tighten, and the momentum was starting to swing.
It wasn’t long before the Cougars capitalized on their possession. Scrimgour once again made a powerful run to dot down for her second try of the game and rediuce the deficit to two points.
They weren’t done there. Scrimgour completed her hat-trick shortly after. This time fly-half Sarah Smyth nailed her conversion, and Carlisle now had a 17-12 lead.
As the match entered its final stages, the Cougars sealed their victory with a try from centre Hannah Musgrave who powered through the Broughton Park defence to cross the line. The conversion was successful, taking the score to 24-12 in Carlisle’s favour.
Broughton Park fought valiantly to the end, but despite some late pressure, spending the final 15 minutes of the game in the Cougars 22, they couldn’t break through the home defence again.
The match ended with the Carlisle Cougars clinching a well-deserved victory, made sweeter after the losses earlier in the season.
Players of the match
- Forward of the Match: Vanessa Hagen
- Back of the Match: Lynsey Rumney
- Opposition choice: Josie Scrimgour
The Cougars are playing Didsbury Toc H Ladies away on November 24 and always welcome new players, training is on Wednesdays 6.45pm to 8,30pm.
