Having opened their league campaign with victory at Bury, it was the bitter taste of defeat that Workington Zebra Finches had to endure as they narrowly went down 12 –5 at Winnington Park.

Lauren Wilkinson scored the Finches try – her first in three years – and was a consistent threat to the hosts as were a number of Finches including Elsa Whelan, Marie Shearman & Stephanie Ratcliffe to name but a few.

But they were unable to get past a vastly improved Winnington rearguard that had previously leaked 74 points in their opening two defeats.

Workington will finally play their first league fixture at The Ellis since February last year when they take on Upper Eden in an historic first encounter between the clubs.

By John Hastings