Women's RL: Thorny issue of roses rivalry up for grabs

Players from West Leeds Eagles, East Leeds, Stanningley, Thornhill, Dewsbury Moor and Batley Bulldogs are among the Yorkshire squad hoping to complete a fourth successive win over their red-rose rivals.

Coach Laura Wilson is confident her players will rise to the challenge and break the deadlock in the annual clash.

“The teams are currently drawing at three games apiece on previous meetings so the winners this week will have bragging rights for the next 12 months,” Wilson said.

“The County of Origin is a great advert for women’s rugby league.

“It often attracts over 1,000 spectators and there’s always a brilliant rivalry. It also gives a chance to showcase talented up and coming youngsters and allows players outside the England set up to play on a big stage and have a huge crowd behind them.”

Leeds-based players in the Yorkshire squad are captain Aimee Staveley, her West Leeds Eagles team-mates Sophie Nuttall, Leah Jones and Sarah Barford; Stanningley trio Chloe Wainwright-Morley, Amy Boardman and Rachael Barker and Kelsey Gentles, of East Leeds.

Other West Yorkshire players in the squad include Dewsbury Moor’s Georgia Roche, Caitlin Beevers and Madison Laverick; Vicky Brook (Thornhill) and Casey Rhodes (Batley Bulldogs).

The game will kick-off at 2pm, after the Bartlett’s BARLA Yorkshire under-18 Cup final between Eastmoor and Skirlaugh (noon).

Admission – covering both games – is £5 for adults, seniors £3 and free for under-16s.