Hindley Pumas 46, Albion Cats 16

This was a much improved performance from the Cats and despite the scoreline they can take heart from a committed and determined display.

Hindley can boast a number of Great Britain internationals in their lineup and in the corresponding home fixture earlier in the season the Cats lost 66-3. However this time, despite missing several regulars, Cats took the game to the Pumas from the start and although they conceded an early try they were soon on the scoresheet themselves when Sarah Cartwright went in at the corner.

The match then remained finely balanced until the half hour mark when Hindley hit a purple patch scoring 4 concerted tries in the space of a few minutes. However, to their credit, the Cats refused to buckle and fought their way back with Laura Ackroyd following up her own kick to score near the posts. With the extras successfully added on Cats turned around 10 points to 30 down.

Playing with the advantage of the slope in the second half Cartwright was soon in for her second try which was again converted by Ackroyd and the Pumas were rattled. For the next 15 minutes Cats laid siege to the Pumas line but were unable to breach a strong defence.

Hindley broke away to score twice in quick succession and added a third at the death but this was an honourable defeat by a team who may well be Division One Champions come May.

In a fine all round team performance Laura Ackroyd shaded the player of the match award but was pushed all the way by skipper Sarah Walsh and forwards Sarah Gatenby and Shelly Whitwham.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.