Highlights: Saints Women Make History

Faye Gaskin and Leah Burke both grabbed hat-tricks as Saints Women began their Super League campaign with a 40-0 win over York City Knights.

The game was abandoned midway through the second half due to a second serious injury.

Faye Gaskin scored Saints Women’s first ever try on around five minutes and her side didn’t look back in front of a healthy crowd at Ruskin Sports Village.

Leah Burke quickly followed up with her first before Naomi Williams did the same at the quarter game mark.

Burke then notched her first second – Gaskin landing a double to complete her hat-trick.

Saints 30-0 to the good at half time.

The second half saw the game stopped for a significant period after Pip Birchall went down injured.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance but all indications suggest it isn’t as bad as was first feared.

It took the best part of an hour for the game to recommence and when it did Williams went in for her second before Leah Burke completed her hat-trick.

Gaskin converting her fourth of the afternoon for 40-0.

Sadly, the game was then sensibly abandoned by the official after another serious injury, this time to a York City Knights player.

Saints head coach Mark Brennan said: “We’re happy with our performance today for a first hit out. We played some nice stuff in parts and finished some nice tries but we know we have things to work on going forward.

“We need to be a little more ruthless in defence at times but on the whole we are happy where we are at.”

He continued: “There were some good performances across the park. Faye had a good game and controlled things well for us scoring three tries.

“Our winger Leah Burke also had a fine game scoring three tries and running the  ball in well.

“Our middles worked hard to lay the platform for us to play and it meant that our attack was able to show some nice glimpses.

“We know this is game one but we are happy with where we are at going forward. To keep any team pointless is great and we are looking forward to facing Bradford next Sunday.

“I would like to wish both injured players a speedy recovery. It’s not nice to see but I am sure they will both be back on the field soon.

“Pip was having a great game and causing problems for York until she was injured. Fingers crossed for them both.”

More to follow… 

Match Summary:

Saints:
Tries: Gaskin (3), Burke (3), Williams N (2)
Goals: Gaskin (4)

York:
Tries:
Goals:

HT: 30-0
FT: 40-0

Teams:

Saints:
1. Becca Rotheram; 2. Rachel Yeates, 3. Naomi Williams, 4. Katie-May Williams, 5. Leah Burke; 6. Carys Marsh, 7. Faye Gaskin; 8. Sarah Lovejoy, 9. Tara Jones, 10. Dawn Taylor, 11. Isabelle Rudge, 12. Roxy Mura, 13. Channy Crowl.
Subs: 14. Zoe Harris, 15. Charlotte Hill, 16. Lizzie Gladman, 17. Pip Birchall.

York:
1. Chloe James; 2. Ellie Henry, 3. Natalie Carr, 4. Ashleigh Fylde, 5. Bethany Lambert; 6. Cairo Nerby, 7. Mary Tiplady; 8. Lauren Powell, 9. Sam Boyes, 10. Abbi Carter, 11. Alisha Clayton, 12. Daisy Sanderson, 13. Paige Stevens.
Subs: 14. Dee Limbert, 15. Carly Hilton, 16. Emily Farrow, TBC.

Highlights...

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