Northumbria University 1s secure back-to-back Women’s University Winter League titles!
Northumbria University 1s won the Women’s University Winter League for a second successive season, retaining their title with victory over the University of Liverpool in tightly contested final at FLAIR Stadium, Dewsbury on Sunday 9th March.
The University of Liverpool took the lead through Freya Turner, who was outstanding for them in both attack and defence, in the 5th minute and continued to trouble the Northumbria defence in the early exchanges and throughout the first half.
It took until the 30th minute for the usually free flowing Northumbria attack to register their first points of the game when Christina Bywater forced her way over in the corner, and Lucy Williamson slotted a conversion from out wide to give them a 6-4 lead.
Williamson herself added the next try after Darcey Worth made space on the right again, but with the conversion missed this time the half time score remained at 10-4 to Northumbria, with all to play for after the break.
The favourites and holders dominated territory in the second half, but the University of Liverpool defence remained resolute and kept them at bay until the 60 minute mark when Williamson scored her second of the game to give the team from the North East some breathing space.
It wasn’t until Player of the Match Kennedy Fisk found the whitewash in the 70th minute after a determined carry however that the score was put out of reach. Williamson tagged on the conversion and completed her hat-trick of tries on the final whistle to confirm the victory with a 24-4 scoreline.
The progress and performance of both teams were credit to all the hard work put in by the players and coaches across the last 2 seasons, and the final was a great advert for Women’s University Rugby League.
FT: Northumbria University 1s 24 v University of Liverpool 4
Northumbria University 1s:
Tries: Lucy Williamson x 3, Christina Bywater, Kennedy Fisk
Goals: Lucy Williamson x 2
University of Liverpool
Try: Freya Turner
