With help from a Wetherby quintet Castleford RUFC Ladies played their first floodlit game against Hemsworth RUFC Ladies on Thursday 26 August. In front of a crowd approaching 100 the Castleford outfit acquitted themselves very well on their first time together in a competitive and entertaining match.
Jessica Baker, playing her first rugby game, charged down a defensive kick from Hemsworth and quickly picked up the loose ball to score the first try. Kira Lewis kicked a difficult conversion to make it 7-0. Hemsworth’s stand-out player, experienced Sally Wenham, rounded off a fine move involving a good interchange with Ellie Frow to peg the score back to 7-5. The home side carried the game to the visitors and scored another try after some fine support play between Baker and Mia Churm for Churm to dot the ball over in the corner to take the score to 12-5. Wenham again showed her power to score a try in the corner to keep the scores close at 12-10. Hannah Mayes showed good acceleration to break free to bring the points up to 17-10 at half time, rounding off a good challenging half for both sides.
The second half was no less competitive and became more so after Daney Jarrett took advantage of a well-worked overlap to score in the corner to make it 17-15. Castleford were hampered by injuries but continued to defend resolutely although were finally undone with two tries in the last quarter of an hour by Wenham and Jarrett to bring the final score to 17-25. It was a good run out for everyone.
Thanks to all the players and the assistance of Chris Reavley as team manager and Wetherby’s Phil Thompson, particularly with the last-minute injury, was very much appreciated. Thankfully Mia is on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately, the game scheduled for Sunday 5 September at home against Old Brodleians has had to be postponed.