Valkeryies knock HullIonians out of RFU Cup at Silver Royd

EMILY METCALF BREAKS FROM DEFENCE AGAINST HULLIONIANS

RFU Women’s National Junior Cup – first round

SCARBOROUGH VALKRYIES 39 HULLIONIANS  10

By DAVE CAMPBELL

The Valkryies ran in seven well-worked tries in the 39-10 defeat of Hullionians in the first round of the RFU Junior cup on a crisp autumnal afternoon at Silver Royd.

The Scarborough ladies scored an early touchdown when Jess Brookman crossed in the 7^th minute; fullback Mel Halstead failed to convert but the Valkryies led 5-0.

Both sides looked to play some attractive handling rugby and the opening quarter of the match was evenly contested. However the Valkryies stretched the lead to 10-0 with a try from skipper Jess Bray in the 22^nd minute.

The Humbersiders came back strongly and with a try two minutes later to reduce the arrears to five points at 10-5 however Casey Hoath went over in the 32^nd minute and converted her own effort to stretch the lead to 17-5 at the break.

The visitors pulled a score back in the 50^th minute to cut the lead to 17-10 and played some lovely running, handling rugby. However they failed to pierce a resolute home defence and the turning point in the game came in the form of two try-saving cover tackles from fullback Mel Halstead on either wing.

And the Talented fullback made her defensive efforts count when she got on the end of a break by Jess Bray to power over between the uprights and add the extras for a 24-10 lead in the 55^th minute.

The local ladies ended the game with a flourish with tries from Jenny Arnell, Bray and Jess Bookman in the last ten minutes for a resounding 39-10 win.