After a bye in the first round of fixtures of the WRLA 2018-19 winter campaign, Sunday, 4 November saw the West Leeds Ladies travel to South Leeds Spartans (who play at the Leeds Corinthians RUFC ground) in their opening fixture.

An impressive 44-6 win brought two well earned points which took the side straight into second place in the Premier Division table.

With a new coaching team and some new players, it was expected the team to be a little on the rusty side for the first game of the new season as they got used to playing alongside each other, and becoming used to new tactics brought in by the new regime. But this wasn't the case, and the player's moulded together well enough to give a solid performance, and one which has set a standard which they hope to continue for the remainder of the season. It was a solid performance which has provided both coach's and player's a solid base in which to work on and hopefully improve upon as the season progresses.

Scorers: Hannah Carty (2 tries, 4 goals = 16 points)
Ellena Powell (2 tries = 8 points)
Sam Trenaman (2 tries = 8 points)
Tiffany Turner (1 try = 4 points)
Lucy Butterfield (1 try = 4 points)
Kirsty Mills (1 try = 4 points)
Total points: 44 points,

The side, with a new captain this season in Sam Trenaman, saw impressive debut appearances from Tiffany Turner, Crystal Victoria Hearsum, Courtney Petruska, Ellena Powell (Who was playing her first game at full-back), and Chelsea-Leigh Hall (playing her first game at open age). The downside was an injury picked up by Chelsea-Leigh, which is hoped will not keep her out of action too long.

This victory by the Eagle's ladies took them straight into second position in the Premier Division.
(1st) Featherstone Lionesses
(2nd) West Leeds Eagles
(3rd) Huddersfield St Josephs
(4th) East Leeds
(5th) Stanningley
(6th) Dewsbury Moor
(7th) Keighley Albion
(8th) Thornhill Trojans
(9th) South Leeds Spartans

The results from the Premier Division fixtures were:
Dewsbury Moor 16-24 Stanningley
Featherstone Lionesses 34-30 Huddersfield St Josephs
Keighley Allbion 68-6 East Leeds
South Leeds Spartans 6-44 West Leeds Eagles
Thornhill Trojans had a bye this weekend.

(With thanks to Laura Wilson, Kirstyanne King, Andy Smith and Kirsty Mills for information on their various postings).