Hull KR women claim victory in first-ever Open Age match

History has been made after Hull KR’s Womens team celebrated their first-ever win over Rochdale Ladies at the weekend.

A 40-8 victory at KCOM Craven Park capped off a dream opening weekend for the female side, with Lucy Ashcroft grabbing five tries on the afternoon.

Coach Ben Parker said: “After holding an open training session on March 3, to then training together for five weeks, I am absolutely delighted with every aspect of how they performed out there.

"We had five girls play who have progressed through our girls programme stepping up from the under 16s set up last season which is fantastic to see. The women are over the moon, they are delighted to have made history for this club and are chomping at the bit to make our debut in the Coral challenge Cup next weekend.

Obviously this is our first ever game, and I aren’t going to get carried away, but I feel this is a great way to start the life of Hull Kingston Rovers Womens Rugby League. We have made history, all of them put in fantastic performances to enable to get that result today, however, our player of the game went to Lucy Ashcroft as to score five tries takes some effort.

“We’ve got things to work on during the week and we will be looking forward to next week’s challenge cup game, I can’t wait to see what this group of ladies can achieve.”

A strong start to the game for Rochdale saw them put the first points on the board scoring in the first set. This seemed to focus the Rovers women as they posted 28 unanswered points to take a 28-4 lead at half-time, with Ashcroft recording a first half hat-trick, Ruby Magson scoring a brace and Aimee Matthews kicking four from five goals.

Rochdale produced a very dogged and spirited performance in the second half with some resolute defending putting paid to several well worked Hull KR attacks.

Ashcroft then opened the second half scoring with her fourth, converted by Matthews, before bagging her fifth of the tie. The final score of the game went to Rochdale, who took advantage of an overlap on their right hand side and scoring in the corner.