The Cougars had lost their opening home game but stormed to a 53-12 win at Harrogate. The conditions were miserable, with the rain starting as soon as the Cougars stepped onto the pitch for their warm up.

Harrogate kicked off and the Cougars unfortunately knocked-on which produced the first scrum of the game.

Harrogate fared no better with the ball as they almost immediately lost it again as the Cougars pounced on a loose ball

The Cougars kicked for touch and reclaimed the ball from the Harrogate line-out throw.

Flyhalf Sarah Smyth kicked for territory and centre Sally Christie was there to run it in but there wasn’t the support and Harrogate got the ball back.

As had been a feature of the early exchanges the Cougars quickly won the ball back and captain Philippa Chadwick spotted a gap and ran in the first try of the game which Smyth converted. Harrogate’s restart kick didn’t make ten metres so the forwards were back down for a scrum.

From it, scrum half Chadwick ran down the wing and gave it to the support player, number eight Vanessa Hagen, who sailed over for an unconverted try.

Hagen went in for her second try of the game from Harrogate’s kick off when once again the open spaces of the wing were used to good effect. The Cougars were able to increase the momentum and Chadwick scored two more tries before half time, with one converted by Smyth for a 29-0 interval lead.

The second half saw the Cougars on the back foot, with two players injured, one of them from a high tackle.

Harrogate had rallied on the resumption and they were able to reduce the arrears with a converted try. The Cougars responded well and Kate Birchall crossed twice in 10 minutes to increase the lead.

Harrogate fought back gamely and scored a second try which went unconverted.

But it was the Carlisle side who finished with a flourish as Hagen ran in her third try and Smyth added the extras.

With just one minute left strong work by the forwards ended with Amber Byers crossing for a try which Smyth converted.

Forward of the match was Steph Musgrave; back of the match was Sophie Richardson and the opposition award went to vice captain Kim Fitzmaurice.

The Cougars are back on home ground at Warwick Road for their next game on November 9 against Ryton

Heather Ivinson