Carlisle Cougars opened their new season with a 26-14 home defeat to Horden and Peterlee Valkyries.
The sides were evenly matched throughout but the Valkyries managed to secure the victory.
The game had started with much of the action in the middle of the field between the respective 22s.
Defending was good from both teams so try-scoring opportunities were limited.
When the Cougars finally earned decent ball possession several players went very close to crossing the line.
Finally the Cougars vice-captain, lock forward Kim Fitzmaurice did break the deadlock, scoring right under the posts and allowing fly half Sarah Smyth an easy conversion.
Horden responded well, though, and they opened up a 14-7 lead with two converted tries before the break.
The visitors were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second-half, too, and a third converted try extended their lead.
The Cougars responded well to create good pressure on the Horden defence but were denied a score by some solid tackling.
Just when it looked as though they weren’t going to break through captain Philippa Chadwick took advantage of Horden not guarding a ruck and ran through a gap to score the try which Smith converted.
Unfortunately for the Cougars they couldn’t maintain the momentum and it was Horden who scored the final try of the game, and the only one not to be converted.
Carlisle’s forward of the match was Jess Hetherington while back of the match was Amy Kinstrey.
Horden chose Philippa Chadwick as player of the match.
The Cougars next fixture is away against Harrogate Ladies on October 19.
