St.Helens Women beat York Valkyrie 12-16 in Round 3 of the Betfred Women's Super to move to second in the table, and record a second win over York in three weeks.
Head Coaches Derek Hardman and Craig Richards welcomed back scrum-half Faye Gaskin who was stood down for the opening two round of the league season due to failing her head injury assessment in the Semi Final victory over York. Captain Jodie Cunningham was named on the bench, as was Naomi Williams for her first match appearance of the year.
First Half
It was a steady opening set from the Saints, with good carries from both Channy Crowl and Emily Rudge followed by a Faye Gaskin kick despite the windy conditions. Our left edge broke up field a bit, however a run play on the last tackle was intercepted by the Valkyrie. They were able to push us back to our own 20, however defence from Gaskin stopped Andrade on the last play.
It didn’t take long for the Saints to strike back. Harris kicked high which caused Kershaw to knock on, followed by a Saints scrum 25m out. From the scrum, the Red V pulled it left, and Dani McGifford raced away from her opposing winger and dived into the corner to open the scoring, seven minutes in. Despite a great effort in the strong wind, Gaskin missed the conversion from the left touchline, 0-4 Saints led.
A quick Valkyrie reply followed. Saints from kick-off knocked on, providing York with a chance. With an offside call and a six-again for the Valkyrie, the Saints did well to hold them out but on the final play York went right, which saw Kira Fitzpatrick score in the corner with a successful Williamson conversion, 6-4.
The Saints held their heads high, providing a good defensive set holding York in their own half. Williamson’s kicks in the wind were tricky by Phoebe Hook and Luci McColm caught well under pressure.
Around the twenty-minute mark Darcy Stott came off and Georgia Sutherland came on. Rudge took up a strong carry into the Valkyries 40m, Harris kicked and our intent in the tackle was strong, driving the York winger back. In this period the Saints get their first six-again of the game, and made strong attempts get us close to the try line – but no good to add a second score yet. On the last, Sutherland tried a power play but was held up.
Rachel Woosey and Jodie Cunningham made their way onto the field off the bench, and Cunningham’s first run of the game she was taken very high by Rhiannon Marshall for a penalty.
With a few minutes left until the break, a York try was given. A kick went out wide to Emma Kershaw, and the referee signalled that Hook had held her up, but the touch judge suggested different and that a try was scored, so the decision was overturned and the try awarded. Williamson got the conversion, 12-4, leaving the Saints trailing by eight points at half time.
Second Half
The second period started well for the Saints, with a great catch from McGifford after a strong first defensive set which set the tone for our team’s want to defend well. York under pressure knocked on moments later. The Saints went close, Cunningham, Harris and Sutherland played a little of the cuff on the last play, but Georgia’s pass fell into the Valkyrie hands. There was a lengthy stoppage early on in the half as Tamzin Renouf stayed down with a knock, but she got checked over and was given an all clear to play on.
Moments later, Gaskin with a brilliant dummy saw a gap and powered over to get a try, she got her conversion adding the extra two to cut the hosts’ lead to 12-10, with just ten minutes played in the second half.
Crowl and Sutherland came off with Stott and Williams coming on. York got penalised for a tip tackle and the Red V were able to push them back onto their own line once again. Harris and Cunningham got close but York’s goal-line defence stood firm for the moment.
As the hour mark approached Hook fielded a high kick from Williamson very well, but was taken high for it and needed to have her neck properly checked over, and was able to play on. During this Sinead Peach and Jodie Cunningham were seen in a little bit of heated discussion, before Hook was given the thumbs up to play on and a penalty given to Saints.
Off the kick Saints entered the Valkyrie’s territory. Casey on the move gave a smart offload to Williams who then crashed over right next to the sticks, getting her first try of the season in her first game. Gaskin added the conversion to make it 12-16 with just under 20 minutes to go.
York began throwing more at the Red V, but errors kept returning the ball back to Saints, who also made a few errors too but the hosts’ were coming both in good ball position, and in their own half.
Hardcastle and Cunningham both got close to driving over the York line, as St.Helens kept pushing for a fourth score. With ten minutes to go Beri Salihi went in and grounded the ball after a smart shaped up play to the right edge, but the celebration didn’t last long as the touch judge overturned the referee’s decision for a second time in the match, judging that we had obstructed York in the play.
The nerves began settling in for both teams, trading knock-ons. Cunningham cut down a threat though as Williamson sought to break the line and go, Jodie stripped the ball one-on-one. Phoebe Hook a few minutes later would come up with some heroic defending too, tackling Tara Moxon and getting onto an offload as well.
In the final three minutes Saints had a scrum just inside the Valkyrie half, and with less than ninety seconds to go Crowl tried a crash ball on the last play, eager to see it out but York held out as the final major act of the game.
A terrific comeback victory for St.Helens Women, 12-16, over York Valkyrie at the LNER Community Stadium less than one week until Wembley and the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final too.
View this post on Instagram
Match Summary
York Team: Georgie Dagger, Eboni Partington, Kira Fitzpatrick, Tara Moxon, Emma Kershaw, Sade Rihari, Ellie Williamson, Izzy Brennan, Sinead Peach, Lisa Parker, Savannah Andrade, Tazmin Renouf, Jaz Bell
Interchanges: Rhiannion Marshall, Izzy Bibby, Demi Fisher, Zoe Hornby
Tries: Fitzpatrick (11), Kershaw (35)
Conversions: Williamson 2/2
Saints Team: Beri Salihi, Phoebe Hook, Luci McColm, Amy Hardcastle, Dani McGifford, Zoe Harris, Faye Gaskin, Darcy Stott, Katie Mottershead, Channy Crowl, Shona Hoyle, Emily Rudge, Caitlin Casey
Interchanges: Jodie Cunningham, Georgia Sutherland, Nom Williams, Rachel Woosey
18th player: Hollie Bawden
Tries: Dani McGifford (7), Gaskin (48), Williams (59)
Conversions: Gaskin 2/3
