A big congratulations to Yorkshire Ladies who made history on Sunday by winning the first Gill Burns Final to be held at Twickenham. No less than 5 DMP sharks were involved on the day, with captain Kat Hobson lifting the County Championship trophy after an emphatic win. Hobson was joined by fellow Sharks Charlie Lewis, Rianna Manson, Rosie Blount and Georgia Cutt.

After a minute the opening score was fashioned by the ever-influential centre, Sarah Dunn, who split the Surry ranks to feed wing, Lauren Bolger, whose speed and agility took her past the last defenders to score in the left hand corner. After 7 minutes the same duo combined in almost identical fashion as Bolger again capitalised on a Dunn break, and good supporting play, to dot the ball again in the corner for 10-0.

Kicking off at 10.00 was an advantage on what turned out to be a very sunny day and, whilst the humidity was oppressive, Yorkshire made light of it as they kept the pressure on Surrey, making it extremely difficult for them to clear their lines. Yorkshire’s intensity and ability to retrieve possession and then to move the ball clinically through to the backs created opportunities and Emma Hardy side stepped the Surrey defenders to create a gap into which Dunn emerged with the freedom to score under the posts. Claire Garner had the much simpler task of converting to bring the score to 17-0 after 25 minutes.

Surrey continued with determination and after half an hour were able to make their first incursion into Yorkshire’s 22. The Surrey forwards pressed forward but the Yorkshire defenders did not relent and held up the attempted drive under the posts. This only caused the Yorkshire players to step up another gear and powerful play epitomized by the Yorkshire forwards, amongst whom Lois-Mae Brown was key and whose ox-like strength shown throughout previous matches shone through again. Precision handling and support play allowed Yorkshire to maintain the pressure and neat footwork and change of balance from Hardy opened another gap for her to score under the posts; Garner converted again to keep the scoreboard ticking on to 24-0.

Brown broke through again on the right and cleverly offloaded to wing, Rosie Blount, who showed deft balance and speed to cut through to score under the posts to allow Garner to bring up her hat trick of conversions for a half time score line of 31-0.

Throughout the game the Yorkshire interchanges demonstrated the strength in depth as each new player slotted in immediately and seamlessly and within the first minute of the second half wing, Jodie Ounsley, exhibited her electric acceleration from Surrey’s 22 to slice through the defence and score under the posts, leaving Garner another conversion to finish off for 38-0.

Surrey gathered themselves for a determined effort but the Yorkshire defence was resolute with each player tackling everything that moved. The heat was taking its toll but Brown, on another 'charging bull' run, made the necessary yards to offload to the supporting Rianna Manson who took the game into the Surrey half, allowing the backs to work the space and Dunn was there again to break through for yet another try under the posts. This time Hardy converted for 45-0.

Surrey continued to press but another counterattack saw the ball played from a breakdown on one wing all along the backs to Savannah Andrade on the opposite wing to score in the corner. Hardy converted from the touchline for 52-0.

As Surrey looked for a consolation try the Yorkshire players were intent on keeping them out and for the last 5 minutes kept them at bay for a fully deserved and historic win.

In the after match speeches tribute was paid to Leah Birkin for her part on getting the team to the final and there were very warm wishes for her recovery and rehabilitation.

Yorkshire’s Forward of the Match was Jasmine Hazell and Back of the Match, Sarah Dunn. The complete squad was able to demonstrate a determination to perform to their best and this was the determining feature of the game.

Yorkshire Ladies Squad

15 Georgia Cutt
14 Rosie Blount
13 Sarah Dunn
12 Emma Hardy
11 Lauren Bolger
10 Claire Garner
9 Leah Birkin
1 Charlie Lewis
2 Emily Wilkes
3 Abby Whisker-Pollington
4 Rianna Manson
5 Jasmine Hazell
6 Vicky Pinks
7 Kat Hobson (C)
8 Lois-Mae Brown

16 Amber Barnicoat
17 Zoe Teece
18 Lauren Clarkson
19 Yasmin Copeland
20 Savannah Andrade
21 Amy Johnson
22 Sophie Wilson