Wakefield Trinity Women are left stunned by Workington Town in Grand Final

In front of a decent size crowd at the DIY Kitchens Stadium it was visitors Workington Town Ladies who went home celebrating, writes Callum Linford.

They were backed by their biggest ever following as over 140 Cumbrians backed the charge for the National Championship and were rewarded with a great performance.

The two sides had played out a 16-16 draw at the Fibrus Community Stadium in the early summer before Trinity got the better of Town in the return leg in Yorkshire 28-12.

The route to the final saw Town destroy Leigh Miners Rangers 68-0. While Wakefield by their own standards had a laboured win 28-6 against Stanningley who up until the 60th minute were in touch with the League Leaders.

The hosts told BBC Leeds during the week they believed they’d be in this position before a ball had even been kicked. Town, however, are the only team to have stopped Trinity having a 100% win record as hey went through their league campaign unbeaten.

Workington had the backing of England International Abi Burton via their Facebook page as well as TV personality Will Mellor and England international footballer Alessia Russo MBE.

But it was Trinity who took an early lead after three minutes when Town were stretched for numbers out wide as Mollie Rattigan scored despite Tonkin’s best efforts.

Town began to grow into the game and on 11 minutes Scrimgour managed to make the pressure count when she burrowed over. Leonie Bragg converted to make it 6-4.

The lead was extended to eight points as Georgia Naylor’s run was finished off by Keeley Chatters to score under the posts and Bragg tagged on the extras.

The game then ebbed and flowed with both sides making errors in a tense game that neither wanted to give a quarter in.

It swung back to Wakefield on the half-hour when Rebecca Gilpin knocked on and Trinity scored through Jess Lumb. Again the conversion was missed and they trailed 12-8 at the break.

The second half started with errors mounting until 60th minute when Town scored to a huge roar as Naylor dove under the posts for 18-8.

It was then nip and tuck until the game clinching Town try was scored as Lexi Hodgson raced 90 metres to cross under the posts and Bragg converted.

Wakefield did score late on with Lauren Rowan touching down, but it was a mere consolation as a season of rich promise ended disappointingly.

Wakefield head coach Jacob Holmes said: “Town came down with an aim to win and wanted it more than us.

"They were strong down the middle and had the desire. We showed spells of good skills but didn’t use the ball well enough and couldn’t move the ball about as we expected.

“Fantastic support from the home and away following. The away supporters were superb and deserved the win.”