After two weather-enforced postponements, Workington Zebra Finches finally played their first game of 2026, writes John Hastings.
However, they endured the bitter taste of defeat for the sixth time this season in RFU League 1 North as Lancaster Lionesses completed the double over them with 10 tries in a clinical 62-12 victory at The Ellis.
Lancaster were also playing for the first time this year – indeed, this was their first match since last November – and they kicked off the first half in a hungry mood as they set up camp in Finches’ territory.
To their credit, Workington mounted a resolute containment but their resistance finally snapped on 10 minutes as the Lionesses registered their first try through a lighting run and finish by Eudora Aledeson, followed by Kayla Heglas’ conversion.
Within 25 minutes, the lead was increased to 21-0 with Chiara Ravetto and Olivia Gowland adding tries and two more conversions by Heglas.
By this time, Workington had no answer to Lancaster’s blistering pace and were effectively chasing shadows.
But they never gave up as their efficiency saw them create regular journeys into the Lionesses’ 22 and their determination reaped success four minutes from half-time.
A defensive scrum was driven over the top with solid ball retention, ending with Lottie Cammack taking the ball and going over under the posts to set up an easy conversion for Stacey Carruthers.
But it was Lancaster who had the last word in the first half with their 4th try when Aledeson once again broke away to touch down, though there was no conversion this time.
The second half was deja vu as the merciless Lionesses wrapped up maximum points by adding five more tries in 25 minutes – including two by Ravetto to complete her hat-trick.
It’s worth noting that Workington did nothing wrong in that time – indeed, they kept plugging away with attacks of their own – especially from new girl Rebeka Cuthbertson, Olivia Kilgour an Lottie Cammack, but every time the ball was in Lancaster hands there was an inevitable air of how it would finish.
With nothing to lose, Workington launched another wave of attacks and scrummaging in Lancaster’s half and with six minutes to go, Cammack finished off a well drilled move to snatch her second try but this time it went unconverted.
But the very last word went to Lancaster in the last minute as Gowland went over for her second try, followed by Heglas’ 6th conversion.
Despite another defeat, there were several positives to take for Workington – the aforementioned Rebeka Cuthbertson produced a confident performance and in time the tries will flow for her.
Olivia Kilgour was tidy and efficient in her new position at centre, crafting a promising partnership with the industrious Sophie Weir, whose ball-carrying and tough tackling often gave Lancaster food for thought.
Elsewhere, the evergreen Lottie Cammack continued to roll back the years with two tries and she was most unlucky to miss out on a hat-trick – she is now top scorer with five so far this season.
Becca White delivered strong, tackles and excellent carrying, while Kathryn Chestney made the effortless transition from second row to front row with a productive performance at prop in both scrums and line-outs.
All is not lost for Workington as even though they remain at the bottom of RFU League 1 North, they are only four points behind Harrogate with a game in hand.
Make no mistake, the Finches will keep on battling and next up for them is a trip to the North East this Sunday to face league leaders Ryton Roses.Â
