Cougars triumph over table topping Northwich

Top of the league Northwich made the journey up the m6 this week, to face a Carlisle side who were determined to defend their perfect home record and turn around the result from the away fixture earlier in the season.

To the relief of both teams the weather improved as kick off approached and a morning of rain, snow and sleet gave way to a bright but cold afternoon. Playing the conditions the Cougars kept the ball tight and pressurised the opposition into turning over the ball. With ball in hand the Cougars played the phases with composition before spinning the ball out to the backs. Who made inroads up the park.

This pressure paid off with the home sides forwards getting three tries on the board in the first 20 minutes, with Lucy Meadley and Sue Bird probing around the fringes and scoring from close range. The third was a well set up driving maul set up from a line out which Steph Musgrave finished well. The Cougars settled into their game plan and got another two tries before half time, with Meadley getting her second, and full back Bethan Lloyd outpacing the opposition and running in another score out wide.

The second half started well for the Cougars securing the ball from kick off, and the boot of fly half Lisa Ritchie forced the visitors back into their own half. Next on the score sheet was Hannah Sherlock powering over in the corner. Unfortunately Sherlock then had to leave the pitch due to injury which led to a reshuffle moving number 8 Holly freestone into the centres, and bringing Jasmine Clark into the back row, this change did not effect the flow with both players slotting in well.

The visitors did pick up their game and stemmed the flow of tries, with ball in hand they were making inroads and forcing Carlisle to defend hard across the park. The Cougars dug deep and kept the Northwich side out. After forcing their way back up the park, and stealing opposition ball in the line out, Sue Bird powered over the line for her second try.

Injury forced the visitors down to 14 players, and the final two tries were once again scored by the backs punching through the opposition with fly half Ritchie getting on the score sheet with a try, and Lloyd getting her second of the game in the final play.

Final score 49-0 and the Cougars now look to keep their home record in tact forward to the next week against old rivals Altrincham Kersal to finish off the year. Kick off 2pm all support welcome.