Carlisle Cougars recorded a big win over Workington Finches after being motivated by a pre-match poem from the coach’s daughter.
It finished 64-10 and Maisie, daughter of coach Lucy Swales, was credited with no small part to play in the performance with her own composition.
She had written it after watching the Cougars play this season and with it being the last game of the year was invited to read it to the team ahead of the Finches clash.
Feeling incredibly motivated, the Cougars were raring to go and they certainly followed the poem’s final philosophy with a proper team performance.
Captain Philippa Chadwick led from the front and scored the first try of the game in the first five minutes out on the wing so there was no conversion.
While in possession Workington’s Beth Sunderland suffered a painful knee injury and play was stopped while the Cougar subs helped her off the pitch.
Once play resumed, Kim Fitzmaurice managed to pop the ball off the floor after being tackled and scrum-half Chadwick stepped inside the opposition before running half the length of the pitch to add the second try, with fly-half Sarah Smyth converting successfully.
Workington hit back when Danielle Easdon found space on the wing and went over for an unconverted try.
But Carlisle stormed back and after Holly Faulder fed winger Amy Kinstrey she drew Workington in, before popping it back to Faulder who sprinted clear for an unconverted.
The Cougars were in full cry now and after Hannah Wilkinson popped the ball to Fitzmaurice the vice captain put her head down and ran three quarters of the length of the pitch, avoiding five defenders to add her name to the growing list of try scorers. She scored under the sticks and Smyth added the conversion.
There was another long-range score when Hannah Sherlock intercepted a Workington pass and also went most of the length of the pitch to add another try which Smyth improved.
So the Cougars were able to turn round 31-5 to the good and in charge.
There was no let-up either in the second-half as the Cougars returned to the fray with renewed gusto.
Sherlock set the ball rolling by taking the ball just inside the Workington half and racing through to touchdown, allowing Smyth another simple conversion.
When they had to the Cougars showed excellent defence and when they took possession of the ball near their try line Smyth produced a fine 50-22.
The Cougars forwards went in for a maul, which was then passed out to the backs, with Faulder producing a pass over her head into the capable arms of Smyth who ran it in under the sticks before adding the conversion.
Within three minutes Smyth had scored her second try, taking advantage of the gaps in the Workington defence while her speed carried her to the try line but from wide-out she missed the conversion.
Number 8 Anna King was next to score after another good run, created by a pass from Smyth, and a clever side-step. Smyth converted.
For all they were playing second best the Finches finally scored a second try. Carlisle’s Lynsey Rumney and Fitzmaurice had held up two of Workington’s attempts at tries but they couldn’t prevent Charlotte Cammack from scoring an unconverted try.
In the last few minutes of the game, Faulder scored Carlisle’s 10th try of the game and Smyth adder the conversion.
The Cougars have wished the injured Workington player Beth Sunderland a speedy recovery and the initial word is that although the knee is swollen and sore the X-ray provided the all clear.
Players of the Match for Carlisle were: Forward – Anna King; Back – Holly Faulder; Opposition selection – Kim Fitzmaurice
The Cougars take a break for Christmas, with their next game away against Keswick on January 11 2026, kick off at 2pm.
The Cougars train on a Wednesday between 6.45pm and 8.30pm at Carlisle Rugby Club, starting in the new year on January 7 and always welcome new players or anyone that wants to give rugby a go.
T1 (non-contact rugby) is also run on Mondays starting again on 5th January 2026 between 7-8pm with Sam Meakin for women and girls over 12 years old.
Maisie’s poem
The hats, the wind, the gloves, the rain, We must all be at rugby once again.
I’m in the stand, the sky is so grey, I look back down and they’re about to play.
The whistle has blown and the ball is kicked, The team are all running on the pitch.
The game is tough, but rugby is rough, The Cougars get hurt, but they start to convert.
But goals start coming, so the girls keep running. The whistle keeps blowing as the score keeps growing.
The crowd start shouting, the Cougars are top. The final whistle blows and they take the lot.
They jump and slap and hug so tight, I’ve never seen such a wonderful sight.
We’re all so proud of what they have done, The Cougars are back because they have won.
Now go get washed and show that grin, and tell them all you’re here to win.
Every player has played their part, The score reflects this work of art.
Come on Cougars this is it, Grab your boots and hit the pitch.
Dig so deep and live the dream, And please remember there’s no ‘ I ‘ in ‘ TEAM.
