St Helens Women maintained their 100% start to the 2021 season, after thrashing Huddersfield Giants Women 90-0. The win also means they are yet to concede any points after their first two games this year.
Saints took the lead with their first set of the game in the third minute. A flowing move from left to right ended with Naomi Williams finding Rachael Woosey who strolled in at the right corner. Faye Gaskin hit the post with the conversion, 4-0 Saints led.
A second try followed four minutes later, Jodie Cunningham fed Woosey again out wide and the winger made no mistake as she grounded the ball in the right corner. Gaskin missed the tough kick, 8-0.
The tries kept coming for the Red Vee, a great run and step by Emily Rudge saw her cross for our third try. Gaskin converted from in front of the sticks.
Rudge then added her second, as she was fed down the left and was too powerful for the Giants fullback and powers her way over. Gaskin missed the kick.
Fresh off her hat-trick last time out, Amy Hardcastle broke the line before rounding the Giants fullback from distance before flying under the sticks. Gaskin added the two from in front, Saints lead 24-0.
Saints added another at the midpoint of the first half. Danielle Bush with a break down the left before Tara Jones picked the ball up from dummy half to power her way over as the Giants tried to get back into position. Gaskin missed the conversion.
The tries continued to fly in as Saints grabbed their seventh try of the first half. A break down the right ends with Williams opting to go herself rather than pass the ball and her decision pays off as she powered over. Gaskin missed the conversion attempt, 32-0.
Amy Hardcastle then stepped her way over from close range! Gaskin added the extra two this time around.
Paige Travis then scored from close range after a move from left to right. The conversion went wide. Before Saints got their tenth and final try of the first half as Emily Rudge completed a first-half hat-trick by forcing her way over from close range after a good pass from Chantelle Crowl. Gaskin misses the kick.
Saints began the second half as they ended the first. Great work from Saints to keep the ball alive and Emily Rudge fed Danielle Bush who scored her first of the game. Gaskin missed the conversion attempt.
Williams then had a lot of space to run into down the right corner and took advantage to score in the corner to further extend our lead. Gaskin hit the post, 54-0.
Woosey then completed her hat-trick on the hour mark for the Saints, using her pace the round the Giants defenders. Gaskin added the conversion, 60-0. Jodie Cunningham then added her name to the try-scorers as she was put through the middle and scored underneath the sticks. Gaskin converted, 66-0.
Saints add their 15th try of the afternoon as we entered the closing stages, Amy Hardcastle completing her hat-trick from close range. Gaskin added the extra two, 72-0 we lead. Woosey then collected a high kick and gave the ball to Danielle Bush, she ran down the right side and stepped past a defender to score. Gaskin added the two points.
Amy Hardcastle was the quickest to react to a Gaskin kick and she collects it to score her fourth of the game! Gaskin added the two. There was still time for one final try, Tara Jones made a big break downfield and she found Emily Rudge on her inside who scored her fourth try of the afternoon. Gaskin converted as Saints won 90-0!
Saints Team: Rebecca Rotheram, Danielle Bush, Amy Hardcastle, Naomi Williams, Rachael Woosey, Beth Stott, Faye Gaskin, Dawn Akrigg, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Emily Rudge, Pip Birchall, Jodie Cunningham
Interchanges: Isabelle Rudge, Paige Travis, Eboni Partington, Alice Sandham
Tries: Rachael Woosey (3, 7, 60), Emily Rudge (10, 13, 39, 80), Amy Hardcastle (15, 30, 69, 78), Tara Jones (20), Naomi Williams (23, 51), Paige Travis (34), Danielle Bush (45, 74), Jodie Cunningham (63)
Conversions: Faye Gaskin (9 from 18)
Huddersfield Giants Team: Philippa Curley, Annabel Loney, Sophie Brunskill, Olivia Cummins, Amelia Brown, Francesca Townend, Chloe Smith, Oyinkansola Kadiri, Rachel Eastwood, Danni Allatt, Reagan Walker, Ellie Taylor, Isabella Skyes
Interchanges: Lilliebelle Hunter, Summa Hunter, Sienna McPherson, Megan Price
HT: 46-0
FT: 90-0
