PENDLE Girls ARLFC achieved the unique distinction of being able to put teams out from Under 11s to Under 16s when they took on the girls from Bradford - a first fixture for the under 16s team.

Despite torrential rain, which saw the postponement of Saturday's Under 14 league match with Bradford, the Nelson and Colne College pitch at Barrowford Road, Colne, stood up well to the weather. However, the slippery handling conditions kept the handling errors featuring as a major factor in the match. Despite the scoreline, the match was distinguished by two hard hitting defences. The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute when the Bradford number three sold a quality dummy and went in under the posts for a six pointer.

The home side struggled to complete their sets of six and kept themselves in the game with a resolute defensive performance with player of the match Chalrotte Sinclair leading the way. Pendle skipper Jenny Swann hit back when exploiting the space created by a telling drive and quick play of the ball by Sinclair. Cheryl Granger put the home side in front as she powered her way over from close range. Joanne Spink added the extra two.

The Bulls went ahead again following more handling errors from the Pendle girls. The second half was edged by the home side as their completion rate improved. The impressive Bradford number three Emily Hirst exploited the blind side and went in for her second. However, the Pendle Girls tied the game up with a slick handling movement finished off by a Granger touchdown.

The remainder of the match was dominated by both defences. Hirst was denied a superb 30-metre drop goal due to a knock on from the previous play of the ball.

The error was punished by last year's Under 14s player of the year, Jennie Hoggat, breaking the defence and running in from 80 metres. The Pendle Girls held on for a hard-earned victory which bodes well for the future.

A word of congratulation must go to Joanne Spink who narrowly missed three touchline conversions in addition to some excellent kicking in open play.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.