History was made at the Ellis Sports Ground on Sunday as the ladies of Workington Finches hosted a league fixture for the first time.

However, there would be no fairytale ending as Didsbury Toc H didn't just ignore the script, but ripped it to shreds as they ran in 10 tries in a convincing 58-0 victory that still leaves the Finches winless in North West 2.

In wet and windy conditions, the first half began with Workington dominating and making inroads into Didsbury's 22, especially from Lauren Wilkinson and Nicola Wilson.

But they were frustrated by the stubborn Toc H rearguard and after riding this opening storm, the visitors delivered the first blow on 12 minutes when their dogged scrimmaging was rewarded with an unconverted try. 

Another followed eight minutes later to double the lead.

Workington didn't buckle, however, and once again proceeded to lay siege into their opponent's half as they searched for their first score, with Zoe Livingstone and Kirby Neesham both producing threatening surges.

But all that good work was cruelly undone in the blink of an eye on 27 minutes when a loose ball was mercilessly pounced on and Didsbury's left winger went on to produce a magnificent solo try from her own half, leaving several Finches players grasping at thin air. The try was converted this time round.

On the half-hour, the lead stretched to 22-0 with another solo run from the halfway line that cut Workington to ribbons. It is to their credit that the hosts managed to contain their rampant visitors for the rest of the first half, with Wilkinson, Wilson and Fiona McKay all in the thick of the action.

Any hopes of a second-half comeback were comprehensively shattered as Didsbury ran riot with three clinically taken tries within the opening 10 minutes, of which only the second was converted.

Although the match was now well and truly out of their reach, the Finches' commitment remained firmly intact and they managed to stem the scoring glut with another period of solid defence while also making more deep surges into Toc H territory, though they were let down by a few unfortunate handling errors.

Another excellent solo try on the hour made it 46-0 to Didsbury and although Workington continued to press harder for that consolation try, they were thwarted by their opponents who were equally committed to preserving a clean sheet.

Didsbury rounded off their scoring feast with two tries in the last five minutes, with the final try converted.

Despite the heavy defeat, it is important to remember that Workington were without several key players through injury - notably their inspirational captain Sarah Harrington.

Also, the new additions to the club still need time to gel with the established players, and over the course of the season, Workington Finches - with added self belief and confidence - can and will make positive progress.

John Hastings