Silsden vs Heworth – Final Game of the Season
Silsden travelled to league‑leaders Heworth for their final game of the season, arriving with only one substitute, Loreece, against a full‑strength and undefeated Heworth side. A late illness, a long journey, and a last‑minute pitch inspection could easily have disrupted them, but Silsden came out with real intent and determination.
A powerful opening set saw Lucy carry with real force, supported by strong early runs from Maisie, Brooke and Maia. Within five minutes, Lucy smashed through three Heworth defenders to score, putting Silsden 4–0 ahead. Dee stepped up calmly and slotted the conversion for 6–0, leaving Heworth stunned.
Heworth responded with pressure, but Silsden’s defence was outstanding. Sofia produced several dominant tackles, India shut down two dangerous breaks with textbook technique, and Nell repeatedly drove runners backwards with her power. Bo and Amy added crucial defensive work on the edges, while Harriet and Kiesse worked tirelessly in the middle to keep Heworth out. Despite this, Heworth eventually levelled the score at 6–6.
The rest of the half was a back‑and‑forth battle. Martha carried strongly through contact, Maia linked play with sharp passing, and Brooke made metres every time she touched the ball. Sofia and India continued to impress with their work rate, while Nell and Bo kept the momentum going with smart support play. Half‑time arrived with the teams locked at 6–6.
Second Half
Silsden again started with intent. Strong carries from Maisie, Amy and Lucy put them on the front foot before Harriet spotted a gap, cut inside, and powered over the line for 10–6. Dee stepped up once more and converted confidently for 12–6.
Heworth pushed back hard, but Silsden’s defence held firm. Loreece, coming off the bench, delivered one of the tackles of the season — a perfectly timed dump tackle that drew cheers from both sets of supporters. Kiesse added more big defensive moments, and Martha continued her relentless tackling effort. Despite this, Heworth eventually levelled again at 12–12.
With only one sub, fatigue began to show. Heworth used their full bench to pull ahead 18–12. Still, Silsden refused to fold. On the fifth tackle, Dee launched a superb kick that Kiesse chased brilliantly, almost producing the move of the match before being forced into touch.
In the final moments, Heworth broke the line once more to finish the scoring at 22–12.
A Performance to Be Proud Of
This wasn’t about the result. Silsden pushed the top team in the league all the way and delivered arguably their best performance of the season. The improvement since their last meeting with Heworth was remarkable — a clear sign of how far every single player has come.
Heworth’s coaches and parents commented on how tough Silsden made the game and how impressive the girls were throughout. Silsden left everything on the pitch and should be incredibly proud of the effort, commitment and heart shown by the entire squad.
Awards
Opposition Player of the Game: Maisie
Parents’ Player: Sofia
Captain’s Player: Lucy
Coaches’ Player: Harriet
