The Bolton RUFC Amazons girls travelled to Oldham to join other teams in the Northern Girls Network cluster.

Alongside the Bolton girls, eight other clubs attended the event from all over the North West in what was a good day of rugby action.

The Amazons’ first match was against Littleborough, who have strong girls’ teams historically.

The Bolton girls joined forces with six players from Glossop RUFC, which is normal for these types of events to allow clubs with fewer girls to play matches.

Bolton started the stronger with Iona Barnes scoring two tries in the first half and converting one of them herself.

Littleborough replied with a try of their own to make the half-time score 12-5 to the Amazons.

In the second half, the line-up was changed to allow the Glossop girls to play and although the combined Amazons and Glossop side put up a good contest, Littleborough won the second half, scoring four unanswered tries to make the final score 29-12.

Isabel McNaboe, playing her first game for the club, settled in well, putting some good tackles in, while Felicity Redford, Eilidh Burns and Aisha Abdi drove well in the rucks and, as ever, Betty Weall, Iona and Holly Turner tackled bravely.

The second game was a joint venture with Rochdale RUFC against combined teams from Crewe and Nantwich, Eccles and Aldwinians.

Bolton and Rochdale turned out too strong for their combined opposition.

Tries by Iona, Holly (two) Isabel, Eilidh and Betty - and one from a Rochdale girl - made the final score 35-0.

Standout players were Iona, Erin Shaw - who made some great runs, supported by Betty - and Holly.

Aisha Abdi, playing on the wing, made some good weaving runs but just could not get over the try line.

Isabel scored her first try for the club in her first ever match and that, along with her confident tackling and hard work, earned her the players’ player, coaches’ player and captains’ player of the match - a hat-trick of awards in your first match is not bad!

Erin picked up the vice captains’ award for her support and weaving runs.

This week the Amazons girls travel to Winnington Park, in Cheshire, for the Lancashire Challenge against Chester and the host club.