Saints beat Huddersfield 74-0 at Crusader Park to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Challenge Cup!
Saints took the lead six minutes in. Rachael Woosey did well down the left edge, broke a tackle and found Leah Burke in support on her outside to score in the corner. Amy Taylor missed the kick, 4-0. Saints’ second came 22 minutes in. Saints worked the ball central and Alyx Bridge powered her way through to score to the left of the sticks. Taylor converted, 10-0.
🙌 @leahh_burke puts us ahead early on!
📸 Kev Humphries#COYS pic.twitter.com/NnjZ382UFp
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 13, 2024
Burke had her second on the half-hour mark. Saints had numbers down the left edge and used them well, as Woosey put Burke over again. Taylor missed the kick, 14-0. Saints’ fourth try of the half came five minutes before the break. Saints again moved it left and Woosey collected it, stepped inside, broke a tackle and went over under the sticks. Taylor converted, 20-0 Saints led at the break.
⏸️ Saints run in four first half tries at Crusader Park to lead at the break!#COYS pic.twitter.com/aPGyTANLIr
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 13, 2024
Saints’ dominance continued in the second half. The ball was shifted right, Beri Salihi found Naomi Williams who caught the ball and dove over in the corner. Taylor converted, 26-0. Burke competed her hat-trick in the 45 minute. Saints shifted the ball left, Burke breezed past Amelia Brown to go over in the corner. Taylor’s kick hit the post, 30-0.
Another quickly followed. Saints shifted it right again, Paige Travis got it and powered over from close range. Taylor converted, 36-0. Vicky Whitfield then marked her return with a try. She got the ball, broke a tackle as dove over for her first try of the year from close range. Taylor converted, 42-0.
Saints’ ninth and tenth try followed. First, Katie Mottershead spotted a gap from dummy half and took full advantage as she sliced through a tiring Giants defence to score from distance. Taylor added the extras, 48-0. Soon after, Jodie Cunningham found Darcy Stott who span her way over from close range. Taylor added another two points, 54-0.
Williams grabbed her second try with eight minutes to go. Saints worked it right and Williams was able to burrow her way over in the corner. Taylor missed the kick, 58-0. Darcy then grabbed her second try. Faye Gaskin found Stott running a strong line and she went through untouched to score next to the sticks. Taylor converted, 64-0.
Two final scores followed. First, Chantelle Crowl was able to battle her way over from close range. Taylor added the extras, 70-0. Tara Jones then played a one-two with Beri Salihi to dive over in the corner, for our fourteenth and final try of the afternoon. Taylor’s kicks hit the post. It wasn’t to matter for the Saints, who progress to the last four following a dominant 74-0 victory over Huddersfield!
💥 A dominant performance from the defending Women's @TheChallengeCup Champions!#COYS pic.twitter.com/tdYPvmlOld
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 13, 2024
Match Summary
Saints Team: Beri Salihi, Leah Burke, Rachael Woosey, Erin Stott, Phoebe Hook, Amy Taylor, Faye Gaskin, Chantelle Crowl, Tara Jones, Darcy Stott, Alyx Bridge, Paige Travis, Jodie Cunningham.
Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Naomi Williams, Katie Mottershead, Georgia Sutherland.
18th Player: Pip Birchall.
Tries: Leah Burke (6, 30, 45), Alyx Bridge (22), Rachael Woosey (35), Naomi Williams (42, 72), Paige Travis (49), Vicky Whitfield (58), Katie Mottershead (60), Darcy Stott (65, 75), Chantelle Crowl (78), Tara Jones (80)
Conversions: Amy Taylor (9 from 14)
Huddersfield Giants Team: Amy Bennett, Lauren Waller, Ana Da Silva, Allana Waller, Amelia Brown, Frankie Townend, Sam Hulme, Georgia Hampshaw, Bethan Oates, Emma Wilkinson, Jess Harrap, Kacy Haley, Chloe Fairbank.
Interchanges: Meg Preston, Grace Ramsden, Beth Armstrong, Gracie Hobbs.
18th Player: N/A
Tries:
Conversions:
HT: 20-0
FT: 74-0
