Sale FC 1861 stay unbeaten with bonus point win
Sale FC 1861 travelled to Shaw Lane aiming to protect their 100% record against Barnsley on a beautiful crisp afternoon in Yorkshire.
The hosts started the game well and took the lead in the 4th minute when they went through phase after phase near our try line before crashing over. 5-0
The blue and whites responded in the 12th minute when the ball was moved well from wing to wing before Becky Church pushed her way over. 5-5
Four minutes later, the Yorkshire ladies retook the lead as their formidable weapon of the pick and go proved unstoppable. 10-5
Undaunted, 1861 levelled the scores on 27 minutes with more good running rugby resulting in Grace White stretching over the whitewash. 10-10
Sale entered the break in the lead as we stretched the visitors defence again and Hannah Birch stepped inside the would be tackler to sprint in. HT 10-15
The second half started with 1861 well on top but we could not turn the territory and possession into points and then lost Helena Walker to a yellow card.
The following 15 minutes saw the home side camped in our half and only a superb defensive effort prevented Barnsley finding a way back into, what was becoming, a very attritional game.
Having weathered the storm, we went into all out attack mode and sealed the match with the last play of the game. A superb kick from Jess Wooden could not be kept in play and, from the resulting lineout, we mauled to the line with Kirsty Reid plunging over. FT 10-20
A tough game with big hits from both sides and a few battered and bruised bodies at the end. Another brilliant team performance though to make it four wins from four and take us to the top of Women’s Championship North 1.