Wigan St Pats Ladies Crowned Lancashire Cup Winners 2017!

Wigan St Patricks Ladies claimed the second piece of silverware for the club this weekend. As a last minute try saw them pip Thatto Heath ladies to the post.

The game played on a glories afternoon at Clarington Park, Wigan saw both teams giving their all for the right to the title Lancashire cup Winners 2017. Its was St Pats that open the scoring after a 30 minute arm wrestle of both teams running, tackling and testing kicks.

Then on 30 minutes, the ball shipped right to left by Joenie Aspin and Holly Speakman found Becky Greenfield in space and she barged over carrying a couple of defenders with her. Moments later a carbon copy of the same play this time saw Chloe Hammond involved and putting Emily Baggaley into space only for the play to be pulled back for a forward pass.

The score remained at 4-0 in St Pats favour until the hour mark, following a Thatto break a lastditch tackle from Armani Sharrock prevented the score but resulted in a sin-binning. Down to 12, St Pats repelled the Thatto onslaught with Michelle Woodcock and Lucy Baggaley working particularly hard in defence. Finally the pressure told and Thatto got their just rewards to tie the game at 4-4 with 10 minutes on the clock.

The return to 13 and with Sharrock, Hammond and Roper leading the St Pats charge they worked their way upfield and into a good field position. The ball was shipped to the left in a move involving Aspin, that saw strong running loose forward, Jess Hopkins, blast over for the winner.

What a great advert for Women and Girls Rugby League praise must be heaped on the players, coaching staff, parents and supporters of two great clubs. The game was contested in a great spirit and a pleasure to watch.

Jess Hopkins was adjudged player of the match and presented the award by Nancy Jones, from The Bowling Green, Wigan Lane – Proud Sponsor of Wigan St Patricks Ladies