Cup joy for Thatto

Bradford Clayton Thunderbirds 24 v 32 Thatto Heath St Helens.

The second final of the afternoon saw Bradford Clayton Thunderbirds take on Thatto Heath St Helens for the Challenge Cup Final and it was as close an affair as expected.

It was Bradford who opened the scoring with a well taken try for Charlotte Booth, but it was not long until this was countered by Thatto Heath when Alex Simpson crossed to level the scores 6-6.

Bradford’s Lois Forsell was next to cross before Thatto Heath took the lead for the first time with a converted try for Jenny Pendelbury.

Thatto further stretched their lead with a second try for Alex Simpson but the game was far from done, as it proved when Forsell crossed for her second.

The yo-yo nature of the match continued, when Bradford’s Jodie Cunningham crossed the whitewash only for Forsell to cross for her third of the afternoon and the score now stood at 20-20.

Thatto Heath regained the lead when Emily Rudge surged over the line and this was further extended to a ten point lead when Tara Jones dotted down.

Bradford were not about to give up, they crossed for their final try through Charlene Henegan but the final say went to Thatto Heath when Faye Gaskin stepped up to slot a penalty and seal a deserved win for Thatto Heath St Helens 32-24.


BRADFORD:
T Charlotte Booth, Lois Forsell (3), Charlene Henegan
G Rhiannon Marshall (2)


THATTO HEATH:
T Alex Simpson-(2), Jennie Pendelbury, Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge, Tara Jones
G Faye Gaskin (4)

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH
Amy Smith (Thatto Heath)


Match Report by Rebecca Bird