England Community Lions Women crown successful Serbia trip with Flora Sandes Cup win

England Community Lions Women are the inaugural winners of the Flora Sandes Cup following a second big win in succession over the fledgling Serbia side.

The cup, named in honour of the remarkable Yorkshire-born woman that became the only serving woman officer in World War One, was presented after the Lions ran in thirteen tries.

Three of those came in the first twenty-five minutes to put the Lions firmly in control. After dragging the Serbian defence off to the left, a clever switch back to the middle brought the first of three tries for Dewsbury Moor prospect Faye Barraclough after four minutes. It could have been four too but for an attempt to be over-ruled. Lisa Parker couldn't goal and Serbia set about their task on the back of a big contribution from Maria Maslakovic and Teodora Marin before good play on the right brought a score for Morgan Pearson following link-up between Lois Brown, Agnes Wood, and Tori Thomas. Thomas couldn't goal.

It was then the turn of Brown, who charged through from Sue Neumann's pass. Neumann also goaled and it was 0-14.

Mia-Jayne Atherton made a brilliant start to the game with some superb contacts in defence and she was also tremendous in attack, particularly when she tore through twice before half-time, punctuated by an effort from joint tour captain Nicky Gross. Neumann added all three of her efforts on goal before that second Atherton try produced a missed goal from the lively Nancy Hirst.

The Lions had to be content with a 0-30 scoreline at the break, but they were soon motoring again a couple of minutes into the new half when Brown finished after a break earlier in the set from Atherton. Then on 49 minutes, the Lions took their score past 40 when Sophie Banks went in out wide and Chloe Wainwright Morley added the second of five goals. Sprightly play from Agnes Wood brought her a second try in two games from dummy half and when Lauren Exley crossed wide out on the right amid some heavy traffic, that moved the score to 0-52 on the hour.

Things got even better for the Lions with Barraclough gliding clear for two tries in succession, the second from long range to take her to three for the game and five for the trip. Wainwright Morley continued her excellent form with the boot and it was 0-64 before Carla Nolan finished some more good passing on the left to complete the Lions scoring.

Late on, Serbia claimed deserved consolation when stand-off Jelena Stojlkovic skipped and pirouetted through for an individual try that Tamara Boshiak converted. There was just enough time for Wood to see a score disallowed before the Lions Women could celebrate a history-making trip with the trophy lift.

Serbia: Tamara Boshiak, Teodora Micic, Nika Bajic, Zjizja Bajic, Ahja Lifter; Jelena Stojlkovic, Katarina Velandski, Jovana Fridl, Nataja Kovacevic, Teodora Marin, Sahja Starcevic, Natalia Simic, Mariaja Maslakovic. Subs: Anastasija Karanovic, Dragana Zezeh, Marija Simovic

Try: Sojlkovic (77).
Goal: Boshiak 1/1.

England Community Lions Women: Faye Barraclough, Morgan Pearson, Claire Fisher, Tori Thomas, Sophie Henry; Nicky Gross, Sarah Palmer; Aaliyah Brewster, Agnes Wood, Arabella Reed, Mia-Jayne Atherton, Olivia Argent, Lisa Parker. Subs:  Carla Nolan, Tilly Davies, Chloe Wainwright Morley, Lois Brown, Sue Neumann, Nancy Hirst, Sophie Banks, Lauren Exley

Tries: Barraclough 3 (4, 63, 69), Pearson (18), Brown (24, 42), Atherton (28, 36), Gross (30), Banks (49), Wood (53), Exley (60), Nolan (73).

Goals: Parker 0/1, Thomas 0/1, Hirst 0/1 Neumann 3/3, Wainwright Morley 5/7.

Serbia 6
England Community Lions 68

Dave Parkinson, FC Heroj Polet, Saturday