In a repeat of last year’s Super League South Final, Cardiff Demons easily overcame a weakened Army side, beating them 72-12 after being 40-0 up at half-time.

Cardiff gave debuts to Britney Price, Rhi Parker, Rafiuke Taylor, Savannah Picton Powell and Sophie Solari, but The Army had gone through an enormous change since last year’s final with just Katie Price, Kaiya Glynn, Emily Carlisle and Hannah Williams remaining from last year’s team.

Joeann McGuire ran in for Cardiff’s first try in the third minute. Leanne Burnell missed the kick.

Debutant Brittney Price ran over half the length of the pitch for Cardiff’s second try on nine minutes. Amberley Ruck had a go at the touchline conversion, but it fell short.

From kick-off, Charlie Mundy battled her way over for the third try. This time Burnell kicked the extras and Cardiff were 14-0 up on 13 minutes.

Molly Reardon dived over for the fourth try with Burnell failing to convert, leaving the score at 18-0 on 20 minutes.

Shortly after the drinks break, Rosie Carr ran over for Cardiff’s fifth, with Burnell converting again.

New captain Bryonie King found a gap for try number six on 33 minutes, with Lowri Norkett following her over four minutes later. Burnell kicked the latter to put the score onto 34-0.

And there was still time for Eleri Michael to run from the half-way line for a further try. Burnell kicked to complete Cardiff’s point a minute record in the first half.

The Army looked like a totally different outfit for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Attacking from kick-off, they were close to scoring in their first attack of the game, but Beth Thomas mishandled as she was close to the line.

Finally they did break the Cardiff defence when Glynn ran over on 45 minutes, converting her own try.

However Cardiff struck back three minutes later thanks to a strong run from Norkett for her second of the game. Burnell’s kick made the score 46-6

Army got their second when Jess Williams dived over and Glynn converted, but a short kick-off worked wonders for Cardiff, with Price racing away for her second of the game. Burnell improved the score, before adding a try of her own, grounding in the corner.

Straight from kick-off, Sara Jones went in under the posts for Cardiff’s 12th try of the game which Burnell converted.

The tries continued. An amazing individual effort from Amberley Ruck deserved a try, but a few tackles later, Norkett scored in the corner for her hat-trick.

Mundy touched down a dropped ball to get her second of the game with Burnell converting to put the score on 72-12 with five minutes remaining.

King nearly got her second, but stepped into touch as she was running for the line, and the final burst of attacking came from the Army who actually forced the first goal-line drop-out of the game in the final minute, but were held up over the line from the resulting set, in what was the final move of the game.