FINCHES DELIVER FITTING TRIBUTE TO NICOLA WITH QUALITY CUP VICTORY

On an emotional day, Workington Finches progressed to the next round of the RFU Women's Junior Cup with a comprehensive 41 - 0 triumph at The Ellis against Kirkby Lonsdale.

The match was dedicated to former Finches player Nicola Wilson on the first anniversary of her passing and before kick off, there was an impeccably observed minute's silence in her memory.

From the kick off, Workington wasted no time in swamping their opponents' half and only four minutes had elapsed when they broke the deadlock with Nicole Stewart producing her trademark run before going over for the opening try, which Elsa Whelan easily converted.

That lead was doubled three minutes later when Stephanie Ratcliffe displayed a nifty turn of pace before offloading to Lauren Coulson, who finished off by darting over the tryline and Whelan again was on hand with the conversion.

Kirkby Lonsdale kept plugging away, but could not find an answer to the Finches' full throttle approach and on fifteen minutes the lead was increased after a sizzling run from Whelan was topped off with a clinical pass to Coulson and she rammed home into the corner for her second try, though Whelan was unlucky to see her conversion attempt fall short.

Eventually, Kirkby Lonsdale managed to curtail the Workington onslaught before stepping up to produce impressive attacks of their own, however they were undone by a stubborn Finches backline that refursed to drop its' guard.

On the stroke of half time, Workington got their fourth try when Sammy Jo Cole produced a devastating sprint from her own half to shred the visitors' defence before finding Whelan, who swiftly offloaded to Ratcliffe and despite a last ditch challenge she crashed into the corner. After a discussion between referee and touch judge, the try was given and despite not converting, the Finches went into half time 24 - 0 to the good.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half was evenly poised with scrums and line outs hotly contested along with further attacks and feisty containment in equal measure.

However after seeing the preceding pressure, Workington raised it with further efficiency and on 58 minutes the tireless Whelan who left her opponents gagging for air with her endless speed before finding Coulson, who skipped away to register her hat trick and 11th try in 5 games. Whelan made it a hat trick of conversions.

Kirkby Lonsdale began to tire at this point and the Finches brutally exposed them with another try on 62 minutes as captain Charlotte Cammack raced through before finding Kirby Neesham who raced into the corner to touch down and Whelan added another conversion.

Finally, with two minutes to go, Neesham ghosted through the South Cumbrians' weary ranks to nip in for her second try, though this went unconverted.

Overall, it was a fantastic all round performance by Workington, who well and truly did Nicola proud on the day. Every player delivered a shift - especially the clinical threesome of Ratcliffe, Coulson and Whelan, whose understanding of each other bordered on the telepathic, whilst Cammack once again led by example with her vocal and physical attributes from kick off to final whistle.

It's back to league action this Sunday as Workington travel to North Yorkshire to take on Harrogate.

By John Hastings @ The ESG