It has been a tough campaign in North 2 West for Workington Finches this season, but they made a fantastic start to the New Year with a convincing 24 - 5 triumph over Stockport Scarlets at The Ellis.

Not only did the win deliver sweet revenge for the Finches after losing at Stockport earlier in the season, but it was also their first victory in the league since October.

Despite missing the influential Shaz Dunne through injury, Workington welcomed back leading try scorer Lauren Coulson and Beth Adams to starting XV and it was Adams who opened the scoring after only 10 minutes when continuous Finches pressure saw her crash over the whitewash for her first try in Finches colours.

Five minutes later, Scarlets Number 8 Ellen Somerwill suffered a nasty looking injury and play was suspended for approximately 10 minutes in order for her to be stretchered off the pitch, to heartfelt and sympathetic applause from players and spectators.

When play eventually resumed, both sides initially found it difficult to readjust, but it was Workington who gradually stepped up the pace on five minutes from time doubled their lead with a second unconverted try when another relentless surge into Scarlets territory saw captain Charlotte Cammack held back just short of the tryline but the ball ultimately found Rose-Ann Cleaton, who went over the try-line swamped by several Scarlets players. The referee confirmed the try following a consultation with the linesman.

For most of the first half, it had been pretty much all Workington and the opening 15 minutes of the second half told the same story as the Finches continued to dominate with Adams, Cleaton, Cammack, Rachael Cairns and Elsa Whelan continuing to give the Scarlets food for thought by making their presence firmly felt at every turn.

Then on 56 minutes, the Finches increased their lead when yet a successful scrum yielded a chain of passes that stretched the opposition to breaking point and it was Cleaton who cut the cord by thrusting herself over for her second try of the afternoon, which Nicole Stewart wasted no time in converting.

Stockport finally managed to make inroads into the Finches half and on the hour this paid off when their first serious attack caught the Finches off guard and culminated with a try in the corner, which went unconverted.

The looks on several Finches players when they returned for the restart said it all as they were bitterly disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet - but this gloom was short lived as two minutes from time another winning scrum produced more sublime pass and movement play which was rounded off by the tireless Whelan feeding Chantelle Grayson who nipped in to bag her maiden try for the club. Stewart again added the conversion.

At the end of the day, the Finches can take immense pride and satisfaction for a comprehensive all-round performance and special mention goes to Amy Nicholson, who became the latest Finches debutant during the match and delivered a tidy, composed performance - she will be a valuable member of the squad for the rest of the season.

Workington now have a week's break before heading off to West Yorkshire on 19th January to take on West Park Leeds 2nds.

By John Hastings @ The ESG