Carlisle hosted top of the league Waterloo on Sunday at Warwick Road. Waterloo showed why they remain unbeaten with only 3 league games to go putting on a classy performance. The score line does not do justice to how the home side played, with 6 injured players sitting this game out and others unavailable due to work commitments it was up to the 15 players on the pitch to battle it out for 80 minutes.

This they did well, first up tackling improved on previous weeks, rucking was more physical and the presence of a couple of extra forwards in the back line helpled the Cougars make yards forward everytime they had ball in hand. A couple of early scores settled the visitors nerves and unfortunately after this there was no way back for the home side. With ball in hand the forwards put in good work with Kathryn Sharpe and Kati Brown carrying well. The Cougars welcomed back fly half Lisa Ritchie and her physical performance confirmed how much she had been missed over the last couple of months.

Waterloo showed their strength when they had the ball, with quick phases creating space and overlaps out wide which they capitalised on using their pacey back three. It soon became apparent that the only way to keep the visitors out was to keep the ball in Carlisle hands, and for large periods of the game this worked well, unfortunately all the possession could not be turned into points and the Carlisle team just never got close enough to the white line to produce the score they deserved.

The last 15 minutes went the way of the visitors showing their higher fitness levels and the advantage of bringing a full squad, making changes and bringing fresh legs onto the park was a luxury the Cougars were without. Waterloo are now looking to the play offs for the Premiership and Carlisle would wish them all the best having had some memorable matches over the last few seasons.

Anyone wishing to take up womens rubgy should contact Hannah on 07912110785 or email carlislecougars@hotmail.co.uk we are actively recruiting new players and having beginners sessions over the next month.