Durham Girls take the spoils
County Durham U14's Girls Rugby League are the County champions having beaten Tyne and Wear over 2 legs.
With girls rugby league going from strength to strength in the North East, the final county game did not fail to disappoint. With the 1st leg having being played at Gateshead stadium, Durham took the spoils 24 - 16 in what was a good open game , and the second game taking place at Helford road in Peterlee, home of the Peterlee Pumas Rugby league club.
The game started well for Durham and when Tyne & Wear let a ball drop Rosie Findlay picked the ball up to go 60 meters, from this Durham picked up the pace and when big storming prop Rebecca Ellwood went crashing through 4 defenders to go over for a try. Tyne & Wear then hit back with 2 tries of their own the 1st coming from a penalty for a high tackle with a try next to the sticks and the second from a big run to go under the post ,this took the scores to 8 all.
As the second 20 got started, both teams were playing some good rugby league. Durham went close to the line and on the 5th tackle a fast play the ball allowed Lisa Adams to go over next to the sticks. This then started a roll for Durham and from the kick off, Jade Holmes broke the defence to go 40 meters to score this took the score to 16 - 8 to Durham.
In the final 20mins both teams showed true grit for their county as neither team took a backward step, the tackles where getting harder and this was now a true county game with more pressure from Tyne & Wear on the Durham line. Some nice passing along the line from Durham saw centre Rosie Findlay over the line again out wide and that completed her hat trick. As the dying minutes remained, Durham received a penalty for a high tackle, and from the tap a very strong and determined run from Charlene Dixon completed this game taking the score to Durham 26 - 8 and winning the tournament 2 games to 0.
Rob Jones East Durham College Community Rugby League Coach "I would like to thank the girls for their hard work over the last 2 months there determination to do well for themselves and their schools was brilliant I would also like to thank Peterlee Pumas for their help and also Sharon Pounder from Peterlee Town Council who have supported me since I came into post, plus a big thank you must go out to the Parents for their help getting the kids here "
Jo Drapier, North East Regional Manager stated, "The game tonight was played in great spirit and there were some great skills on show. I'm really excited about Girls Rugby League development in the North East, with 5 North East girl's teams already getting started at U14 and U16's, including Cramlington Rockets, Whitely Bay Barbarians, Sunderland Scorpions, Durham Demons and Peterlee Pumas. Well done to all the girls who represented County Durham & Tyne & Wear."
If any girls want to give rugby league a try please get in touch with either Rob Jones on Robert.Jones2@eastdurham.ac.uk or Lee Carbutt on leecarbutt@thunderrugby.com