Workington Town Ladies first got together in 2021 and played a few friendlies to get to grips with Rugby League as they sought players from across at Workington Zebras RU and some who had played some years ago.

They impressed their team manager Sue Grimley – and the club took the decision to seek admission into the Women’s League Two. This proved a superb success as Town lost only one game all season (their first).

Now they have swept aside the whole league following victory over Orrell St James, winning their promotion play-off final to crown their already victorious season as plate final and league leaders shield winners.

The game started with Town going up the hill in the first half at Featherstone’s Post Office Road. They weren’t deterred by this, nor the early penalties they conceded. As the fifth minute approached, Shakayla Okesene crashed over for the first of her two tries to give Town a deserved lead.

Orrell came back at Town and on 15 minutes scored through some good hands to level the scores outwide at 4-4.

Then the game ebbed and flowed as Town conceded eight penalties in the first half. The game had somewhat of a disjointed feel, which was more apparent when a nasty looking injury to Lauren Fryer saw her come off on a stretcher to give head coach Steven Caton a headache reshuffle.

From the stoppage Orrell, as expected, took the opportunity to play the ball outside and score on half time for 4-8.

The second half started in a rush – more accurately Alice Rush as she scored from some beautiful play following a knock on from the kick off.

This was all that Town needed to give them the ascendancy, and even though the scores were only level at this point it seemed to be a big shift as Town battered their way down the hill at will on occasion.

When Town looked to grind the St James side down a beautiful pass from Rush and Porter sent Jenkinson racing through for a beautiful finish to send town to 14-8.

The points kept coming from Town and Rush again was instrumental in the build up as she forced a knock on with Becca White.

From this Town were halted with some poor ball handling and then a penalty for an elbow from Katie Jackson saw them back in their own half for the first time in 20 minutes. Town, though, stood firm and Ivison intercepted a sure try to take them to the 40-metre line.

Okesene then lent her weight to the Town attack again taking four over the line including the ball to score and send Town to 22-8

The game continued to go set to set and the defences held up well until Orrell, who had niggled away at Town, forced Rush to see yellow for a professional foul.

Orrell did score soon after but it was a mere consolation as Sophie Price killed all hope of a comeback as she scored, burrowing over from close range to see Town win 26-12.

The ladies player of the match went to Juliet Porter who was instrumental in all of Town’s success.