Last updated at 11:50, Wednesday, 18 July 2012

A rookie Cumbria girls’ squad put together in just weeks showed the depth of RL talent in the county with a battling display in a festival in Castleford.

The new Under-16s squad, on debut and coached by Haven’s Aussie forward Luke Isakka, beat the North East 8-4, lost 16-4 to the North West and 24-0 to Yorkshire.

“It was a massive step, but they stood up and were counted,” said Amanda Hewer, Haven’s development manager. “They had trained, but never together, and they all found it a massive learning experience. It was the first time Luke had coached a girls team and he was very impressed. There’s much more to come.”

The county’s Under-14 girls’ clash with the North East was abandoned at 4-4 after six minutes due to an injury suffered by one of the NE players. And the Cumbrians, drawn from youngsters across the county’s RL heartland, were edged out 8-4 by the North West and 16-4 by Yorkshire.

Hewer, who coached the county Under-14s, added: “It shows how good the girls are up here. Our girls didn’t even know each other, but they gave it everything.”

First published at 11:28, Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk