Sunday 21st October 2001
Women's Challenge Cup Preliminary League
KEIGHLEY ALBION CATS 6 WAKEFIELD PANTHERS 36

Despite the scoreline this was a solid performance by the Cats and they gave unbeaten Wakefield a stern examination. The match kicked off in heavy rain and with both sides missing key players and the ball greasy it meant ball possession was vital.

However in a match that was a credit to both teams defences held firm as each side completed several sets of six and threatened the opposition line. Eventually a powerful Wakefield break opened up Keighley’s right flank and from a grubber kick the Wakefield winger won the race for the touchdown. Wakefield stand off and Great Britain captain Brenda Dobek adding on the extras.

However Keighley were not lying down and came straight back at Wakefield, forcing a number of errors as they put their defence under pressure. From close in and on the last tackle the ball came loose and skipper Laura Ackroyd had the presence of mind to kick the ball forward and score by the posts. Ackroyd herself adding on the conversion.

Both sides were playing some fine rugby despite the conditions and each went close to adding to their score. However it was eventually Wakefield who gained the upper hand with their loose forward shrugging off several would be tacklers to score near the posts. Again the extras were added. Just before half time Wakefield produced a carbon copy of their first try and again this was converted by Dobek. The Cats changed round 18-6 down but the score did not reflect the efforts of the team in the first half.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first with defences largely on top however Keighley were again undone by the variety of the Wakefield kicking and the winger again won the race to touchdown. With the extras added on Wakefield were beginning to pull away. However Keighley would still not lie down and spurred on by Gemma Liddon and Keira Burns they often had the Wakefield defence rocking.

Unfortunately they could not force their way through and in their only lapse of the match they allowed the Wakefield centre Natalie Gilmour (sister of Bradford Bulls Lee) an unopposed run to the line. The Cats though were showing tremendous character and several storming runs from Claire Ackroyd again had Wakefield back pedalling. However it was not to be their day and near the end Wakefield scored another converted try to give the scoreline a flattering look.

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