Saints Women opened their Betfred Women's Super League season with a comfortable 44-0 win over Wigan Warriors at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday afternoon!
π΄βͺοΈ ππΌππππ πππΌπ ππππ! π΄βͺοΈ
Head Coach Derek Hardman has made three changes to his side from last weekend's @TheChallengeCup Final. Roberts, Stott and Whitfield are replaced in the team by Birchall, Mottershead and Hoyle, who makes her debut!#COYS pic.twitter.com/C0PNDbcvEo
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) May 15, 2022
It was a bright start for the Saints as they went ahead in just the third minute. Amy Hardcastle made a great break down the middle of the Wigan pack before offloading to Paige Travis who was tackled. From the play the ball, Saints threw the ball to the right wing as Rachael Woosey found Leah Burke to stumble over and score. Zoe Harris kicked the conversion, 6-0 Saints led.
π | TRY-TIME!
πΊ | Hardcastle makes the break, and Burke is on hand to open to scoring for @Saints1890Women!
Tune-in LIVE π@TheRFL | @Betfred
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 15, 2022
Our lead was extended in the 14th minute. Harris laid a pass off for Chantelle Crowl who ran through a big gap to score underneath the sticks. Harris converted, 12-0 to Saints. Our third came seven minutes later, Naomi Williams with good footwork to break down the middle of the Wigan pack, she got tackled. From the play the ball, Saints threw the ball from right to left as Travis found Hardcastle who slid over from close range. Harris missed the extras, 16-0 Saints led.
π | @Saints1890Women are on top!
Hardcastle extends their lead.
Watch LIVE π@TheRFL | @Betfred
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 15, 2022
Our fourth try of the game came a few minutes later. Jodie Cunningham found Travis with a flat pass just inside the Warriors’ half, she ran a great line before rounding Georgia Wilson to score under the sticks. Harris converted, 22-0.
The @Saints1890Women left edge is on π₯
π | @paigetr38477665 hits a perfect line and goes over to score!
Tune-in LIVE π@TheRFL | @Betfred
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 15, 2022
Our fifth and final try of the first half came in the 33rd minute, and what a try it was! Cunningham found Hardcastle just inside her own half, she fended off a few Wigan tackles before breaking downfield to score under the sticks, a trademark Hardcastle try. Harris converted to give us a 28-0 lead at the break.
HT' π΄βͺοΈ Saints Women 28-0 Wigan Warriors Women πβͺοΈ
Saints lead at the break after five first half tries! Tries from Burke, Crowl, Hardcastle (2) and Travis. 40 more minutes to see this one out! π#COYS pic.twitter.com/ECa3TXFKVg
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) May 15, 2022
The second half was a scrappy affair for a while. It took Saints until the 67th minute to grab their sixth try. and first of the second half. Shona Hoyle grabbing her first Red Vee try on her debut as she broke through the Wigan defence before fending off another two Wigan defenders to score. Harris converted, 34-0.
Step β‘ Fend πͺ Try π@shonahoyle has her first Betfred Women's Super League points for @Saints1890Women!
Tune-in LIVE π@TheRFL | @Betfred
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 15, 2022
Two minutes later, Saints had another. Emily Rudge made a good break downfield and off the back of it Saints worked the ball down their short-side as Crowl found Partington who grounded the ball for our seventh try of the day. Harris narrowly missed the extras, 38-0.
π | @Saints1890Women are cutting loose! @Partingto3Eboni gets on the scoresheet!
Tune in LIVE π@TheRFL | @Betfred
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 15, 2022
The final Saints try came two minutes from time. Saints did well to keep the ball alive and Cunningham found Harris who threw a dummy before running through a gap to score. She converted her own try to give the Saints a 44-0 victory over local rivals Wigan in their season opener at the Totally Wicked Stadium!
FT' π΄βͺοΈ Saints Women 44-0 Wigan Warriors Women πβͺοΈ
Saints win the derby with a eight-try performance. Second half scores from Hoyle, Partington and Harris adding to the five we grabbed in the first 40!#COYS pic.twitter.com/xypYRZoMLE
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) May 15, 2022
Match Summary
Saints Women Team:Β Rebecca Rotheram, Leah Burke, Rachael Woosey, Amy Hardcastle, Eboni Partington, Zoe Harris, Jodie Cunningham, Isabelle Rudge, Tara Jones, Alice Sandham, Naomi Williams, Paige Travis, Chantelle Crowl.
Interchanges:Β Shona Hoyle, Emily Rudge, Katie Mottershead, Pip Birchall.
Tries:Β Leah Burke (3), Chantelle Crowl (14), Amy Hardcastle (21, 33), Paige Travis (26), Shona Hoyle (67), Eboni Partington (69), Zoe Harris (78)
Conversions:Β Zoe Harris (6 from 8)
Wigan Warriors Women Team:Β Georgia Wilson, Kaitlin Hilton, Anna Davies, Rebecca Greenfield, Kerrie-Rose Evans, Ellie Costello, Carys Marsh, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Emma Dwyer, Freya Hellin, Mary Coleman, Rachael House, Sinead Doria.
Interchanges:Β Bethany Hayes, Holly Speakman, Abbie-Marie Singleton, Georgia Lake.
Tries:
Conversions:
HT:Β 28-0
FT:Β 44-0
