A magnificent all-round performance saw Workington Zebra Finches overpower bottom side Yarnbury 60-10 at The Ellis, writes John Hastings.
It’s a result that moves them four points clear at the top of RFU League 2 North, with just two games left.
This was the Finches’ third successive victory over their West Yorkshire opponents this season, having already registered away wins in both League and Community Plate, and after last Sunday’s walkover success against North Ribblesdale, this now makes it eight successive wins in 2025.
Only three minutes had elapsed before Workington opened the scoring when Megan Donald finished off a powerful attack before she doubled the lead three minutes later, enabling an easy conversion by Stacey Carruthers.
Yarnbury simply had no answer to Workington’s blistering start and it got worse for them when Lottie Cammack pulled a great charge down before Danielle Easdon snaffled the loose ball to power home for another unconverted try.
But then Yarnbury managed to get their act together and string a few attacking inroads of the own before breaking their duck with an unconverted try on 20 minutes – however, their joy was fleeting as the Finches hit back in kind only two minutes later when Donald sprinted clear to claim Workington’s fourth try of the afternoon – and her second hat-trick of the season.
Seven minutes later, Finches’ fifth try came when a loose cross kick by Yarnbury was chased down vigourously by Meagan McAndrew who just managed to grab it right in the extreme corner, though as with all other tries (bar one), there was no successful conversion.
With half time approaching, the Finches seemed to ease up and Yarnbury wasted no time in seizing the initiative with more dangerous attacks and on the stroke of half time their patience was rewarding with their second unconverted try to make the score 27-10 at the break.
To say that Workington got off to a dream start in the second half would be an understatement – three tries in the opening 10 minutes effectively secured the points as first Donald made it four tries for the day within a minute of the restart before captain Juliet Porter provided the Champagne moment of the match.
On 43 minutes, she collected the ball near her own tryline before galloping clear ahead of vain Yarnbury challenges to canter home and under the posts.
Five minutes later she added her second try as her scintillating pace left her challengers clutching thin air.
By scoring both tries under the posts, she set up simple conversions for Donald, who had by this time succeeded Carruthers on kicking duties.
It should be noted that although the game was up result wise, Yarnbury never went even remotely close to giving up and on the few occasions they had control, continued to probe the Finches with smart passes and efficient attacking, but were unable to breach the orange and black rearguard.
On the whole it has been a tough campaign for them, but they are determined to complete their season as well as avoid relegation.
Workington had the last word with two more tries – first, Porter completed her hat-trick by scything through the non-existent Yarnbury defence on 66 minutes and finally Easdon picked up her second try two minutes later as she scooped up the ball following another loose cross kick and bulldozed over for her second try.
Donald converted both to give her a personal haul of 28 points and take her over 100 points for the season.
It was another all-round performance with every player stamping their confidence and authority on the pitch – from clinical scrummaging and successful lineouts to well-timed tackles and charges, plus of course the superb attacks and movements that yielded ten tremendous tries.
Special mention goes to Rose Cleeton, who once again made light work of her evergreen status with a firm, solid and unflinching performance at tighthead prop and to the hat-trick queens Megan Donald and Juliet Porter, the club’s leading scorers this season with 17 and 16 respectively.
Congratulations go to Sarah Tweddle who, after several appearances from the bench, finally made her debut start and was always in the thick of it – that maiden try will come for her in time.
Now, just two games stand between Workington and that elusive Championship and both are away from home – first they travel to Lancaster Lionesses this Sunday and they will be fired up to avenge their only league defeat just before last Christmas at The Ellis before their final journey to West Yorkshire on April 27 to take on Skipton Roses who, like Workington and Lancaster, are in the Championship chase (a marked contrast to last season, when Keswick Falcons wrapped up the title by mid-March).
And sandwiched between those encounters is the crucial matter of the RFU Community Plate Semi-Final at The Ellis on Saturday April 12 as the defending holders aim for a third successive final – their opponents Harpenden remain unbeaten in RFU League 2 Midlands, but it’s safe to say that Workington are busy doing their homework on the Hertfordshire club and will be ready for them on the day.
It goes without saying anyway, but just as they have done in the past two seasons, Workington Zebra Finches are 110% determined – and then some – to finish this season on a glorious high.
