Silsden Stormettes and Drighlington always produce close, hard‑fought games, and with the last meeting ending 4–4, everyone expected another tight contest. From the very first whistle, it was clear that Silsden had brought everything they’ve been practising in training straight onto the pitch: energy, structure, communication, and real belief.
India, leading the team as captain, set the tone early with her organisation and encouragement, keeping the Stormettes calm and focused as she guided the team through the opening exchanges.
The Stormettes started brightly. Early pressure from Evelyn, Ella, and Brooke helped settle the team, and after some sharp link‑up play, Nell powered through the defensive line to score the opening try for 4–0. Dee stepped up calmly and slotted the conversion for 6–0.
Drighlington responded well, pulling the score back to 6–4 and then 6–6 despite determined defensive work from Bell, Maisie, Lucy, and Harriet.
The first half ended level at 6–6, exactly the kind of battle everyone expected, with Evelyn and Ella continuing to work tirelessly in defence.
Drighlington struck first after the break to move ahead 6–10, but Silsden refused to let the game slip. Huge running from Bo, Bell, Harriet and Nell lifted the tempo and pushed the Stormettes back onto the front foot. Loreece’s impact from the bench added fresh energy and strength, while Bo kept driving the team forward with her powerful running.
Sustained pressure followed, and Sofia crashed over the line to level the score at 10–10 before Dee added another confident conversion to make it 12–10.
The moment of the match came soon after. On the fifth and final tackle, the ball was moved quickly through the hands before reaching Dee. She steadied herself and sent a big looping kick into the corner. Kiesse timed her run perfectly, sprinted through, rose above the defender, and took the catch cleanly before grounding it brilliantly in the corner. It was a stunning finish that lifted the whole team and the crowd. That try pushed the score to 16–10, and Dee’s conversion extended it to 18–10, with Kiesse’s confidence growing even further after her superb finish.
Across the pitch, the physicality and work rate were outstanding. Jess drove through contact with strong, straight carries, and continued to make metres whenever she got the ball. Lucy broke the line repeatedly, while also adding important defensive tackles. Maisie powered into challenges and refused to be stopped and her determination and drive set the tone for the whole team.
Martha added calm, controlled carries late in the game and helped secure possession in the closing stages.
The defensive effort was just as impressive. Evelyn set the tone with fearless early hits, and backed that up with strong positioning. Bo delivered some of the biggest collisions of the match, and her running and tackling intensity never dropped. Brooke shut down wide attacks with brave tackles, and defensive awareness that earned her praise from the coaches and the watching crowd. Ella produced the tackle of the game with a perfectly timed hit that lifted the whole squad, and her communication in defence kept the line organised.
A major positive was the first appearance for Maia, newly transferred from Queensbury. She settled straight in from the bench and made crunching tackles, showing exactly what she will bring to the squad going forward. Her confidence grew with every involvement, and her debut was a standout moment for the team.
Throughout the entire match, the team spirit was exceptional. The girls supported each other constantly, lifted teammates after big moments, communicated brilliantly, and played as a connected, committed group. That unity carried them through the toughest spells and helped secure an outstanding result, with Bell and Sofia both leading by example in how they encouraged teammates.
After such a strong performance, four players received well‑deserved recognition. Daisy was named the opposition’s player of the match. Kiesse earned the parents’ player of the match for her electric running and brilliant try. Brooke was chosen as the coaches’ player of the match for her relentless tackling and smart positioning. Sofia received the captain’s player of the match for her leadership and crucial try.
This was an amazing result built on huge effort, strong physicality, smart decision‑making, brilliant teamwork, and clear evidence of training paying off. Every Stormette played their part, every Stormette stood tall, and together they delivered a performance to be proud of.
