Sunday 2nd December 2001
Women's Premier Division
Keighley Albion Cats 44 Hull Dockers 0

The Cats provided a strong and disciplined performance against a rugged Hull team.  This victory moves Albion to Third in the league table.

Albion started off brightly.  Laura Ackroyd scored her usual try, dummying and then shooting through the gap.  For her second Ackroyd put Sarah Cartwright through the line and then backed up for the return pass to cross over.  Laura then added the conversion.

The Keighley side maintained the pressure and after 30 minutes of play Sarah Cartwright forced her way over in the corner, Laura Ackroyd made the difficult conversion look easy.  In the last play of the 1st half Jodie Billing drove 20m downfield and this gave Laura Ackroyd the space to put Sarah Cartwright in for her second.  This time the centre went near to the posts to give Ackroyd a much easier kick which Laura made look difficult by missing it!  Albion then turned round with a comfortable 20-0 lead.

After the restart it was more of the same.  A well-timed Laura Ackroyd pass put Jodie Billing through from 40m out and the Australian drew the full back to send Ackroyd goalwards.  Laura also added the extras.

Ten minutes into the 2nd half the game boiled over.  Following a thwarted Hull kick and chase a mass battle broke out which lead to 2 Hull players and Albion prop Angie Pickard being sent off.

This did not stop the relentless Albion pressure on the Hull defence.  Laura Ackroyd produced a grubber kick caused panic in the defenders.  Jodee Loader then picked up the difficult ball and scored in one movement. 

The Humberside team then rallied, putting a lot of pressure on the Keighley line.  However resolute tackling from Jodie Billing, Laura Ackroyd and Saima Hussain kept them at bay.

In the last 10 minutes the Cats cut loose again.  Jodie Billings astute pass released  Saima Hussain and the winger went 40 metres and rounded the full back to score.  Again Laura Ackroyd converted.  Finally Jodee Loader picked up her second try by shooting down the wing, Laura Ackroyd added the extras.  With 5 minutes remaining the Dockers camped out on the Albion line but couldn't force a consolation try.

With such a disciplined team performance it is difficult to single out any players.  However the consistent work of Hooker Keira Burns and scrum-half Tracey Lynch in leading the attack also deserves mention.

Coach Andy MacDonald praised the team, "This was undoubtedly our best 80 minutes of the season so far and we kept the pressure on from first to last.  It was particularly pleasing to keep a clean sheet and on this form we need not fear anyone in the League."

Next weekend the Cats are free to allow for the Great Britain training weekend.

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