Records tumbled in the Jungle as Manchester Swinton Lionesses recorded their biggest-ever win at Castleford Tigers.
John Whalley’s side piled on the points in West Yorkshire as they ran out comprehensive 82-0 winners.
On a day where Eve Ashcroft made her 50th appearance for the Lionesses and scored her 100th point, she also broke the club record for most goals and points in a game.
Meanwhile, Grace Pritchard scored her 50th point and equalled the number of tries scored in a game.
The Lionesses’ dream day got off to the perfect start after 36 seconds when Sammi Simpson drove forward from kick-off before the ball was moved out to Kerrie Evans, who broke through the Castleford defence to go on a 55-metre run to score.
Ashcroft added the conversion.
From the restart, the ball was given to Eleanor Atherton to drive the ball up. Abbie Singleton went on a run before slick passing released Arrowsmith, who sent Grace Pritchard in at the corner. The conversion was missed.
The Tigers’ restart was again given to Eleanor Atherton to drive up. Madeline Neale took the ball over the halfway line. Abbie Singleton went down the short side before passing to Sammi Simpson, who sent Kerrie Evans away to score. Again, the conversion was missed.
The Lionesses scored again from the next restart. Georgia Briggs took the ball up before it was moved out to Grace Pritchard who ran 55 metres down the wing to score near the posts. Ashcroft added the conversion.
A knock-on from the restart allowed Castleford to apply pressure to the Lionesses’ line but superb defence kept them at bay.
More errors allowed the Tigers to move the ball out to the wing, but Luisa Baldwin was unable to take the final pass.
The Lionesses responded to the home pressure and added another try when Pritchard broke through the Tigers defence and then rounded the fullback on an 80-metre run to score under the posts. This brought up her 50th point for the club. Eve Ashcroft converted.
From the restart, Maddie Higson broke through the Tigers defence to go on a 60-metre run to score under the posts.
Eve Ashcroft converted. Castleford went back on the attack. A last tackle kick was taken by Eve Ashcroft, who set up the next Lionesses attack.
Kerrie Evans broke through the Tigers defence and went on a 45-metre run to earn the Lionesses a penalty. The ball was moved across the field, but Grace Arrowsmith was unable to take the pass with an open line.
Chloe Newbigging collected another Castleford kick and went on a run to set up the next Lionesses attack. The ball was moved across to Yasmin Parton Sotomayor to drive the ball up.
Sammi Simpson broke through the Tigers defence before being tackled short of the line. Morgan Pearson went over from dummy half but was unable to ground the ball. The Lionesses were back on the attack in the final minutes of the half.
Yasmin Parton Sotomayor took the ball up. A Morgan Pearson pass sent Kerrie Evans away to score. The conversion was missed as Whalley’s team went into the break 36-0 ahead.
Penalties allowed the Tigers to attack the Lionesses’ line at the start of the second half.
The Lionesses eventually recovered the ball, which allowed Chloe Newbigging to go on a run down the wing. Georgia Briggs took the ball up before passing it onto Leila D’Symonds, who lost control of the ball as she crossed the line trying to score. Castleford had to kick on their next possession.
Tamika Bull recovered the ball and moved it out to Amber Harmon, who broke through the Tigers defence and went on a 50-metre run to score. Eve Ashcroft converted. Castleford were penalised for offside eight minutes later.
Yasmin Parton Sotomayor took the ball up before it was moved out to Tamika Bull, who put Eve Ashcroft through a gap but she was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved out to Sammi Simpson to score. Eve Ashcroft converted.
From the restart, the Lionesses quickly moved the ball downfield. Amber Harmon went on a run. Tamika Bull passed the ball to Eve Ashcroft, who took the ball up to the defensive line before passing it back to Tamika Bull whose kick through forced the Tigers into a drop out.
The Lionesses were unable to capitalise and handed the ball back to the Tigers. Good defence by the Lionesses kept the Tigers deep in their own half. A kick on the last was taken by Tamika Bull.
She passed the ball onto Amber Harmon who dummied her way through the Tigers defence to go on a 40-metre run to score under the posts. Eve Ashcroft added the conversion.
At the restart, Tamika Bull passed the ball out in the tackle to Grace Pritchard who went on a 65-metre run to score under the posts. In scoring, she equalled the Lionesses record of scoring four tries in a game. Eve Ashcroft added the extras.
From the restart, Leila D’Symonds took the ball up before moving it out to Sammi Simpson who broke through the Tigers defence to go on a 40-metre run to score under the posts. Eve Ashcroft added the extras. Three minutes later, the Lionesses were awarded a penalty.
They quickly got the ball to the Tigers line before passing it to Yasmin Parton Sotomayor, who crashed over to score her first try for the club.
Eve Ashcroft kicked the conversion to break the goals-in-a-game record. From the restart, the Lionesses went back on the attack.
Morgan Pearson went on a 30-metre run before breaking through the fullback’s tackle to score. Eve Ashcroft converted for her 100th point for the club.
The Lionesses were awarded a penalty in the last minute. The ball was moved out to Eve Ashcroft, who went over to score in the corner. In doing so, she broke the record for points in a game. The conversion was missed.
Match report by Alan Dixon, images supplied by MKS Photography.
