Townville Panthers 48

Keighley Albion Cats 0

The Cats became the latest team to fall victim to the Wakefield machine but despite the one sided score line they can take much credit from this performance.

The Panthers line up was so strong they were able leave three Great Britain internationals on the subs bench. Albion Cats were fielding two new signings including Karen Tagg an American Rugby Union player who travelled up from the midlands to play.

The match kicked off in artic conditions making handling very difficult. Wakefield playing down the slope in the first half were soon on the attack but the Cats defence stood firm and the Panthers were not having it all their own way. Led by new signing Julie Burgess and hooker Keira Burns the Keighley forwards were making good yardage up the hill. Unfortunately, twice at crucial moments, the ball was lost and the scoring chances went begging.

Prompted by Great Britain coach Brenda Dobek, Wakefield gradually began to take control and from a flowing move they scored the opening try which was converted. Two further tries followed but at only 18-0 down and half time approaching the Cats were still in the game. Critically right on half time they lost the ball deep in the Wakefield half and the league leaders swept downfield to score another try. The conversion was the last kick of the half.

If anything, conditions worsened in the second period when the crowd numbers increased as some passing penguins stopped to watch proceedings.

With the advantage of the slope Keighley were able to put some pressure on the Wakefield defence but the Panthers held firm and snuffed out any danger whenever their line was threatened. The Albion defence began to tire after all their first half efforts and this coupled with the loss through injury of influential second row Leanne Ludlam allowed Wakefield to gain the upper hand.

A number of set moves were put into play and the Panthers left-winger was on hand to finish off three of them with a fine hat trick. Credit to the Cats though, they never gave up and went back at Wakefield time and again but the meanest defence in the league was in no mood to give anything away. The final move of the match saw Wakefield in for their eighth try but the Cats had made them work hard for their victory.

Among the many plus points in this fine team effort was the defensive work of Player of the Match Saima Hussein, the charging runs of Keira Burns and a welcome return after a long injury layoff of prop Sharon Wilmot.

Sunday v Cottingham (home).