Despite surrendering their 5 match winning streak, Workington Zebra Finches can take pride in making North 2 West Champions Southport sweat for their 32 - 17 victory at The Ellis & thus crown their "perfect season" of 14 wins in a row.

Indeed, both the Southport captain & coach said that the Finches were the only team to have tested them throughout the course of their successive season.

Workington looked livelier from the kick-off and within the opening 5 minutes opened the scoring when smooth flowing running allied to finely executed passing left the visitors flummoxed at times with Lauren Coulson finishing off a well choreographed move to just squeak home for her 12th try of the season.

Then on 12 minutes, a period of exerted scrummaging put Southport on the back foot and Hannah Thornbery was on hand to crash down and make it 10 - 0 to Workington. Sadly, the windy weather meant that neither try was converted.

But then Southport managed to reduce the arrears on 15 minutes against the run of play when they scythed through the Finches' defence for a breakaway try that was unconverted.

Workington continued to dominate, but despite more feisty scrummages they simply couldn't find a way through and after riding the storm, Southport drew level on 22 minutes when another surge into Finches territory ended with a try in the corner, but once again, another two points went by unclaimed.

The Finches were not to be denied and with Elsa Whelan, Lauren Coulson, Sammy- Jo Cole and Beth Adams calling the shots, they were determined to regain their lead and twice came agonisingly close to doing so as first Coulson and then Stephanie Radcliffe were thwarted with the tryline at their mercy.

However, this made them even more determined to reclaim the lead and five minutes from time did just that as Grace Weston sliced through the Southport backline to scuttle under the sticks and plunder the third try for Finches - this time Elsa Whelan executed her conversion with impeccable precision and despite a late surge from their opponents, Workington managed to close out the first half and go in 17-10 ahead at the break.

It was Southport's turn to dominate proceedings from the start and five minutes into the second half, during another surge in Workington's half, a high punt upfield caught the Finches flapping and another try saw the deficit reduced to only two points (another conversion attempt went begging).

What followed next was appoximately 20 minutes of evenly balanced rugby with both sides having their moments of domination but not quite finding the killer denouement as reliable doughty, but firm defence was in equally impressive mode - but it was Workington who uncharacteristically blinked first and Southport pounced mercilessly to regain the lead on 65 minutes as their constant pressure was rewarded with a hard-fought try under the posts, cueing up an easier conversion to give them a 22-17 lead with 15 minutes to go.

Once again, Workington refused to flinch and Coulson, Adams, Radcliffe and Whelan all caused Southport concern with their dangerous movements, but slowly tiredness began to creep in and the Champions wasted no time in exploiting this with two unconverted tries in the last five minutes to not only seal victory but also ensure their place in club history with "The Perfect Season".

Workington can take immense pride in making their opponents fight for the victory and there were several positives to take from the afternoon - the blossoming Lauren Coulson and Sammy-Jo Cole centre partnership, Elsa Whelan making the full back spot her own, Stephanie Radcliffe showing her flexibility on the wing, Laura Southam crowning her debut season with another flawless front row display, the flourishing lock duo of Beth Adams & Claire Pooley, the no-nonsense, indomitable Lauren Wilkinson at Number 8 plus the quiet, but firm captaincy of Danielle Easdon - deputising for the absent Charlotte Cammack.

There is also a special mention to former captain Sarah Harrington, who returned to Finches colours with a brief cameo from the bench and made her presence felt at all times.

Workington remain 4th in North 2 West but with their last game at Oldham cancelled, they will be looking to claim the points which would take them to runners-up.

But whatever the position, the Finches have done themselves proud this season, with seven players called up for Cumbria in the forthcoming County Championship.

By John Hastings @ The ESG