ON Saturday 12 March the Roses kicked off the first ever game of women's rugby to take place before a men's game at Sandylands on a Saturday afternoon.

Those who came to watch and support weren’t disappointed to a cracking game of rugby against Littleborough RUFC Pink Warriors.

Littleborough kicked off and the Roses were straight on the attack and were soon in their half and making ground into the 22. The forwards and backs combined well and from a quick recycled ball at the breakdown fullback Courteney Pearson received the ball and went on a swerving run down the left supported by Kerys Hey and Emma Potter.

Pearson was able to avoid the last tackler and touchdown for the Roses first try.

Hey missed the conversion. From the restart the Roses were slow to react and Littleborough gained possession. Their forwards carried strong however the Roses defence was strong. Captain Liv Schepisi lead by example with her solid tackling.

The forwards of Charlotte Fryatt, Amy Linnigan, Sally Plum, Danika Cowgill, Rachel Cleminson and Sarah Pate all put in some fine tackles, knocking the players back, however Littleborough were very good at securing the ball and this allowed the ball to be put through the hands and they quickly racked up four unanswered tries to give them a comfortable lead at half time.

At half time the Roses made changes bringing on Player of the Match Lottie Knowles, prop Kimbers Chapman, Vicki Parker, Eleanor Mann and Sophie Murtagh.

The half time brief by Schepisi and Knowles inspired the ladies and the first 15 minutes of the second half were dominated by the Roses, resulting in two tries. The first came again from fullback Pearson, when centre Hoggatt made a short pass and Pearson found the gap and ran in under the posts. Their second try wouldn’t have looked out of place at a pack Twickenham stadium.

From a turnover in their own half 10 metres from the touchline, second rower Plum crashed the ball in, Parker and Mann secured the ball and Weir popped it Kimbers, who drew the player and passed to Marklew who put pace on the ball and took play into the Littleborough half. As the defender came across Marklew popped an inside pass to Schepisi before looping and receiving the ball back in space and ran in under the posts. It looked like the Roses were going to comeback, however Littleborough, who are two leagues above the Roses, weren’t going to let a win slip through their fingers and as the Roses tired and made several changes, Littleborough scored a further 3 unanswered tries. With a few minutes left on the clock Fryatt went on a bulldozing run crashing through their backs, before offloaded to ever present Pate, who made 20 yards and into the Littleborough 22.

As Pate was tackled she tried to passed to debut Julie Moon, but unfortunately the ref deemed a knock on and this brought the game to an end.

Although the Roses ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, the result was irrelevant. This was about the Roses gaining more playing experience against a team from two leagues higher and showcasing how grassroots womens rugby is growing and developing at Skipton RFC. Special mention to Julie Moon who on her debut but in a sterling performance and to forward of the match Danika Cowgill, back of the match Liv Schepisi and Littleborough RFC chosen player of the match Lottie Knowles.