Rovers take Challenge Shield

Featherstone Rovers 64 v 14 Stanningley Ladies

Sunday saw the finals of both the Women’s Challenge Shield and Challenge Cup take place at Dewsbury Rams Tetley Stadium.

The first match saw Featherstone Rovers take on Stanningley and the game certainly lived up to its billing.

At half-time Featherstone led by just one try 18-14. Stanningley – the Division One team – had battled superbly to keep the Premiership side close, but in the second-half Featherstone hit the accelerator pedal and raced away to a 64-14 win.

Featherstone’s Andrea Dobson opened the scoring before Stanningley hit back in quick succession with two tries to take a 10-6 lead.

Featherstone regrouped and regained the lead with a try for Kayleigh Bulman, they further extended their lead when Natalie Gilmour crossed shortly after.

However, before the break Stanningley would cross again, this time through Ellanor Trumper, Jodie Litherland had converted two goals for Stanningley to give a half-time score of Featherstone 18 Stanningley 14.

Featherstone fired out of the blocks in the second half, grabbing the opening try with a second for Bulman closely followed by a second for Dobson.

Stanningley continued to battle but Featherstone were on a roll that was not going to be halted.

Brogan Churm crossed the whitewash on two consecutive occasions before Dobson bagged a hat-trick.

Bulman was next to grab a third before Gilmour crossed for her second.

The final score made it four for the hard working Bulman and with Gilmour converting nine and one for Katie Cooper Birkenhead the final score for the Challenge Shield saw a 64-14 win for Featherstone.


FEATHERSTONE
T Andrea Dobson (3), Kayleigh Bulman (4), Natalie Gilmour (2), Brogan Churm (2)
G Katie Cooper Birkenhead, Natalie Gilmour (9)


STANNINGLEY
Sarah Dunn, Jodie Litherland, Ellanor Trumper
G Jodie Litherland

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH
Brogan Churm (Featherstone Rovers)


Match Report by Rebecca Bird