Leicester Tigers claimed a bonus-point 36-0 win at West Park Leeds in Round 4 of the Women’s Championship North on Saturday.
In the season’s third game on the road, Tigers scored twice in a close opening half played mostly in the middle third of the pitch at The Sycamores, Bramhope, before stretching out with four more scores after the break to maintain a winning run to the team’s debut season.
Led by back-rower Becky Noon and with two of the backline making a first starting appearance of the season, the opening score came after just four minutes with Bryany Chalk marking her call-up with a run-in on the left to finish from a break by Louisa Burgham. Katie Childs added the conversion.
But the visitors had to wait until the midway point to extend the lead against a physical and determined home team, with wing Zoe Evans scoring on the right touchline.
There were no further points until five minutes into the second half as Burgham beat two defenders out wide on the left to score and Childs added the kick for a 19-point lead.
The next score came from a tap penalty as Tigers started to convert pressure and field position into points with Jade Shakespeare crossing for Childs to add the extras and then Yorkshire County cap Kat Turner picking up from the base of a scrum to add another five points against a West Park team who finished third in the table last season.
The final score was added from another tap penalty, Ali Gale going alone as West Park were pinned back, and Tigers made it four from four at the start of the season ahead of a return home to face Loughborough Town Ladies in a derby during the Double Header at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, November 5.
Commentary
IT'S ALL OVER
West Park Leeds Ladies 0-36 Leicester Tigers. Tries from Chalk and Evans in the first half followed by scores from Burgham, Shakespeare, K Turner and Gale after the break in Round 4 bonus-pint win.
TIGHT FIRST HALF
Tigers lead 12-0 in a close first half, with tries from Bryany Chalk and Zoe Evans, plus one conversion from Katie Childs. All to play for after the break
ROUND 4 IS UNDER WAY
We get the game started at The Sycamores, with West Park Leeds Ladies hosting Leicester Tigers in Championship North 1.