With Workington Town having no fixture again, the club’s Ladies took centre stage at the Fibrus Community Stadium in really hot, strength-sapping conditions.
The Town Ladies didn’t disappoint as they were comfortable 48-4 winners against Leigh Miners Rangers.
That win guarantees them a home draw in the end of season top-four play-offs, although had gone into the clash without three key players who are injured – Lauren Coulson, club captain Beth Adams and Meagan Byers.
However they did welcome two new signings to the team Lexi Hodgson and Lauren Oates who proved their worth with solid contributions to the victory.
Town were rather fortunate, perhaps, to get on the board first when an apparent knock on went unnoticed much to the dismay of the Rangers bench and supporters, but a powerful run from Bethani Fearns allowed Josie Scrimgour to cross unopposed. Leonie Bragg converted.
There was a long stoppage after an injury to one of the visitors and following the restart Georgia Naylor was able to burrow over from dummy half following good play from Jasmine Cox.
Town were over again when Fearns ran a superb line and selfishly fed Hodgson to run in for an unconverted debut try. Leonie Bragg missing the wide kick just.
Town were over under the posts when an awful kick was allowed to bounce and Chatters picked up to race 30 meters and score with Bragg converting.
Just before half-time the visitors scored out wide but they went in trailing their hosts 20-4 although encouraged by Charlotte Hill’s touchdown.
An early penalty allowed Town to build good field position and from it Scrimgour went through to score her second under the posts and Bragg converted.
Town were starting to dominate their opponents towards the middle of the second half and Scrimgour flew 70 metres to complete her hat-trick.
On 65 minutes both teams were reduced to 12 players after a flare-up with Bragg the one to walk for Town after she retaliated to a horrible challenge.
In the closing stages Town scored again when they broke through the tired Leigh defence to send Fearns over for her second try after a great break from Leah Turner.
Then Lauren Oates made a big break to set up a deserved try for the returning Bragg and she added the extras herself.
Town were over again in the next set when Hodgson raced a good 70 metres, stepping away from the fullback to complete a brace on her home debut. Bragg converted.
Player of the match: Bethani Fearns.
