Workington Finches' faltering league campaign continued with a third successive league defeat as they went down 45 - 20 at promotion chasing Littleborough Warriors.

The Finches were under pressure from kick off as they dealt with their hosts regular surges and on eight minutes, Littleborough took the lead when a clearance was picked up by Summer Harris in her own half, who then delivered a mesmerising solo run that left her opponents flailing as she cruised home for a converted try.

From then on, it continued to be one-way traffic as the hosts turned on the style with a combination of speedy play allied to powerful scrummaging and after only twenty minutes the lead was increased to 26 - 0 with three more tries (all but one converted), one of which was as the result of a poor Finches clearance that was charged down and punished.

Finally, Workington began to recover and with their first serious inroad into Littleborough territory, they opened their account on 26 minutes when a well orchestrated attack was rounded off by Kate Smith ghosting in for her maiden try and tree minutes later another excellent attack ended with Nicole Stewart thundering home to score, though neither try was converted.

Littleborough were clearly taken aback and only just managed to close out the first half as their stubborn defence weathered the Finches' onslaught.

Any designs Workington had on an unlikely comeback were brutally extinguished within the opening five minutes of the second half as Littleborough cut them to shreds with two quick tries and it got worse five minutes later when Sophie Bowness - who had hitherto produced a tireless performance - was stretchered off with severe ligament damage.

But the Finches again regrouped and with Steph Ratcliffe, Elsa Whelan, Rachael Cairns and captain Charlotte Cammack all showing creative tendencies they fought back with two tries in 10 minutes as first Cammack turned a tap and go into a smash and grab with her 7th try of the season and this was followed by a well marshalled scrum that saw Danielle Easdon shuffle over the whitewash to touch down. Again, neither try was converted.

Five minutes from time, Littleborough had the last word as Summer Harris once again displayed a scintillating burst of speed to exploit tired Finches marking to breeze home for another converted try.

Just as Workington were bitterly disappointed with another defeat, so they can take comfort from confident performances by Smith - playing out of position at centre - and the ever dangerous Stewart, while Shaz Dunne turned in a solid, no nonsense performance at full back. However, the absence of Lauren Coulson and Leonie Hudson were clearly felt

This weekend, Workington take time out from league action as they visit Carlisle Cougars in the second round of the Junior Cup.

By John Hastings @ Rakewood Road