Halifax Panthers take the sting out of the Rochdale Hornets to go top

The Halifax Panthers Women continued their winning streak at the weekend with a 32-6 win at the Rochdale Hornets.

(Photo credit:Simon Hall)

Tries from Carly Yeaman (x2), Kirsty Hodgson, Becky Goulding and Rochelle Statham-drake (x3) sealed the victory for the Panthers. The victory sees Halifax topping the league 1 table in the early stages of the season.

After a couple of weeks with no games due to Covid illness and a free weekend, the Halifax Panthers Women were keen to build upon their first-round win against Wigan St Patrick’s.

Halifax were without some first-team players, and as such coaches Ant McCarthy and Connor Matheson had to play players out of position to adapt.

Although a relatively new team, Rochdale Hornets did not back down from any challenges they faced from the Panthers and displayed some strong attacking and defensive efforts throughout the 80 minutes.

The Panthers opened the scoring early in the game following some strong running the middle and quick hands from Molly England sending Captain Carly Yeaman over for her first try of the game.

Halifax continued to pile on the pressure with some strong running from oppositions players off the match Beth Greenwood and Stacy Mowforth putting the Panthers in striking range. Some quick thinking from Yeaman created an overlap to send Becky Goulding in for a try in the corner.

(photo credit: Simon Hall)

Rochdale threatened the Panthers’ line on the back of strong attacking plays, but Halifax defended their line strongly and regained possession and kept the pressure on. Rochelle Statham-Drakes solo effort from 40 metres out took the score to 0-14 at half-time.

It was Rochdale who drew first blood in the second half with an impressive 80 metre try under the sticks from the Hornets’ second-row Sam Brazier, who caught the Panthers’ defence napping.

However, it did not take long for Halifax to hit back with a lovely set piece from the scrum. Kirsty Hodgson made strong inroads through the defence and tipped the ball out in the tackle to Statham-Drake sending her over the line for her second try of the game.

(Photo credit: Simon Hall)

With a strong lead the Panthers started to play a more expansive style of rugby that seemed to pay off leading upthe next try as the ball flowed from left to right to send Yeaman crashing over the line for her second try.

The Panthers tails were firmly in the air as they showed a fabulous passage of play to draw in the defence before shipping the ball out wide to find the overlap to give Kirsty Hodgson a try in the corner.

Halifax didn’t take their foot off the gas with prop Mowforth finding a way through the defensive line and managed to get the ball free to Statham-Drake despite heavy attention from the hornets defenders, sending her over for the hat-trick and take the final score to 6-32.

Coaches McCarthy and Matheson praised the team for sticking to the game plan and getting the basics right. They also praised their player of the match, Sophie Langley, on her performance and coming out of her comfort zone by switching to a completely new position for her halfway through the game.

A special mention to Kara Colvin who made her return in the game following an 11 month side line due to an Achilles rupture.

The Panthers are back at home on Sunday 15th May in the Semi-final of the league cup against Leigh Miners Community Team.

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