Workington Town welcomed a new era Sunday in the form of a ladies' team for the first time in its 77-year history with a bumper crowd to welcome the ladies into the newly named Fibrus Community Stadium.

Head Coach Steven Caton said after the match he was delighted with performance 1-17 with all coming through injury free and how much it means to be the first head coach of the ladies' team supporting from a young age to now being a coach and thanked the vocal backing the side had from minute 1.

Caton would ask all who can to make the trip to Newcastle, Kingston park on July 30 for the return fixture with a kick-off time TBC.

Caton would ask all who can to make the trip to Newcastle, Kingston park on 30th July for the return fixture with a kick off time TBC.

The ladies got off to the perfect start after a grubber kick was left to go dead by Newcastle. Two minutes later Lauren Fyer scored the ladies first ever try.

This was then swiftly followed by a superb break from Amaris Mcgready who fed Rachel wood for an unopposed run to the line. Laura Ivison going two from two with the boot.

Town's first error came on 7 minutes when a pass went astray. This was soon recovered though when 3 Town ladies bundled the Thunder opposition to touch.

Thunder was far from done with the pressure and come again 2 minutes later before some more great defence kept the Thunder to nil.

The game then slowed down towards the 13th minute after a frantic opening, that was before a drop of the shoulder from Captain Laura Ivison sent Town away again but for some great defence it would have been 16-0 as it was Thunder come away from the set with a scrum.

The game's first penalty was awarded to the visitors on 15 minutes for a ball steal this was the telling blow to the Town line as Brooke Henderson scored when they created an overlap out wide, with the kick sailing well wide to leave the scores at 12-4 to Town.

Town from the restart continued to trouble the Thunder outfit with another fumbled kick giving Town the ball on the Thunder 30. As the game passed the opening quarter a promising Newcastle run was ended when an incorrect play of the ball was called on halfway.

The home side were then given their first penalty for a ball steal 18 meters off the Thunder line.

A barnstorming run from Becca Burridge saw an opportunity for Lauren Wilkinson to go over with a neat twist in the tackle to score near the posts. Ivison going 3/3.

The game then had to be momentarily halted with a nasty-looking injury in the attempt of tackling Wilkinson. The Thunder player was able to leave the field with the support of the medical staff.

From the restart Town went back-to-back as Ivison caused havoc again with the shoulder drop making 30 meters before putting boot to ball for Georgina Porter to score just before the dead ball line, Ivison missing the kick for 22-4.

Town was under the pump on the half-hour mark before Laura Ivison plucked the ball clean out of the air putting the afterburners on to go 95 meters as the scrum half scored a well-deserving try, Ivison converting for 28-4.

As 37 minutes passed Town was penalised for accidental offside and faced a line challenge again before Maegan Poyton made a fantastic ball and all tackle forcing the Thunder lady into touch.

Julliet Porter then made a fantastic break getting the ball along the line and as Thunder failed to deal with the kick Town went over again for Elsa Whealan to end the half scoring, with Ivison off for a breather Whelan missed her kick from out wide to leave the scores 32-4 at half time.

Thunder came out firing in the second half and this was aided when Town were caught offside in their desire to defend the line. When Rachel Wood made a dart out of marker Thunder took full advantage of the gap to score their second try, and Henderson's, on 42 minutes, the kick agonizingly wide for the visitors.

The game again stopped on 45 minutes with a head/neck injury to a Thunder player this time looking a lot worse than the first. The game restarted 5 minutes later with Thunder on a roll down field before seemingly losing the tackle count as Workington come off their 10 with Sasaskia Lyttleton the catalyst for Town's forward progress.  

With 50 minutes on the clock, Thunder worked a scrum move very well with slick passing from left to right before giving the ball away in their eagerness to play quick-flowing rugby by knocking on.

Town looked to come away well before a knock gave Thunder the ball back on halfway. Successive penalties either way on 56 minutes gave Thunder the ball on their 40. A third penalty on the belt end saw a third try for Thunder with Keira Scott going over, Katy Richardson getting the conversion for 32-14 on the hour.

Town then attempted an intercept on halfway resulting in the home side getting a scrum on halfway some fantastic running from the Town backs laid a brilliant platform for the next try and a perfect example of a 'team' try was finished off by forward, Lauren Wilkinson, Ivison converting once again to take Town back go to a 4 score lead (38-16). Town was awarded a scrum on 77 minutes but was guilty of overplaying and losing the ball. Thunder then lost the ball cold in an unforced error to give Town the ball on their own 40.

The ladies of the match went to Laura Ivison and Lauren Fryer.