Ladies notch up hat-trick of titles

Barnsley opened the scoring with a penalty after 5 minutes from Becky Patrick.

A penalty and an unconverted try egded Birkenhead in front but a Sarah Palmer try levelled the score at 8-8.

Defences were on top in the sec ond half as both teams held on to their unbeaten record.

Barnsley are 11 points in front after playing a game more but their superior points difference and 7 extra try bonus points mean that a win at Sunderland in a fortnight’s time should seal the league title.

This does not mean automatic promotion though as the winners of National Championship 2 North will face the winners of National Championship 2 Midlands in a play off to advance to Championship 1 North.

Next week the ladies travel to Kenilworth for the quarter final of the Intermediate Cup.

With both teams looking evenly matched on paper it should be a cracking encounter.