St.Helens Women beat Barrow Raiders Ladies 6-40 with a strong second half performance to bounce back to winning ways following the Challenge Cup Final.
Derek Hardman & Craig Richards made a few changes from the side that took to the field at Wembley; with Naomi Williams starting at prop, Amy Taylor in the halves and Erin Stott stepping into the centres.
View this post on Instagram
First Half
It was a good attacking start from the Red V, with full-back Beri Salihi who carefully caught the ball despite the windy conditions which would make it difficult for the Saints in the opening half.
However, errors cost the Saints early on. There was three separate errors which allowed Barrow to go close, their momentum was building and for the first ten minutes of the game Saints were on the back foot. With twelve minutes gone, and on the back of three errors in our own half, Barrow went over and scored. It was a short pass to loose forward Nicole Stewart who got the try, and also added the conversion, 6-0 the hosts led.
The Saints kept their head high coming of the back of Barrows score, which was soon followed with a knock-on from the Raiders giving the Saints the ball back 30 meters out from their line. They went close but was unable to add points to the board.
The Red V sought to step up the defensive effort, with a strong set in the seventeenth minute, as they kept Barrow in their own 20m. This was followed by big hits from Amy Hardcastle, Shona Hoyle and Emily Rudge before Darcy Stott took a big hit to the nose and went off the pitch for the rest of the game. She was replaced with Vicky Whitfield who straight away made her mark in the game providing some more big tackles on the opposition.
With twenty five minutes gone the Saints Women gof a penalty after a late hit on Katie Mottershead, only being 20m out. However, after an unfortunate knock-on from Whitfield we lost the ball meaning we could not make it pay then, but it didn’t take much longer for the Red V to strike. Quick hands out to the right saw a smart pass from Erin Stott to Phoebe Hook, it allowed her to dive over the try line on the right side. Faye Gaskin missed the conversion after it bounced off the sticks, 6-4. Following Hook’s try, a Barrow player was put on report for a potentially late effort leading with the knees on the winger as she went in to score.
The Red V Women followed the try with a great attacking set, some big carries from Hardcastle, and the team were edging closer to Barrows line creating some momentum. With ten minutes to go to the break, there was a double interchange for the Saints as Caitlin Casey & Erin McDonald came on with Mottershead and Williams coming off.
In the thirty fourth minute Hook scored again, with more good shape on the right, the ball got played fast to her, getting a try again. Gaskin missed the conversion, again the wind proving tough in the opening half.
Barrow thought the opening stanza got into the faces of the S-Women with strong line speed and strong challenging tackle. But it was the Saints who went into the changing rooms at half time in the lead, 6-8.
Second Half
The Red V came back out and gave a strong attacking set. Shona Hoyle put in some big hits, and Salihi collected the ball well after a good kick from Barrow to end a good attacking set.
Seven minutes into the second half, Saints got given a penalty after a high tackle on Cunningham. Gaskin did a strong kick into their 20, the wind now in her favour, allowing Rachael Woosey to get the ball and dive over the line to score. Gaskin missed her conversion attempt, 6-12.
Less than three minutes later Woosey stuck again! After a clever pass from Hardcastle she was able to find a gap and score with ease. It was another missed kick attempt from Gaskin making the score 6-16 with 30 minutes left to play. There was an interchange for the Saints, as Alyx Bridge came on and McDonald went off.
The Saints then got the ball back after a Barrow knock-on, they played it left, then played it right stretching the Raiders’ defence, and tension began rising in the stadium. A well executed pass to Whitfield unlocked the defensive line, with the prop able to score right under the sticks. Gaskin got her first conversion of the game, adding the extra two points 6-22.
The clock stopped at minute fifty nine as Erin Stott went down, medical staff went over to check on her before giving her the all clear to play on. Minutes later the Red V struck again. A quick pass from Gaskin to captain Jodie Cunningham allowed her to glide over the line. Then despite the wind shifting back against, Gaskin got her conversion 6-28, with less than twenty minutes left on the clock.
Alyx Bridge helped halt Barrow’s attempt to turn the tide, putting a great tackle on a Raider who was gaining metres. A knock on in our half gifted the hosts a rare second half good chance to attack but Richards & Hardmans’ troops forced them backs determined to keep Barrow back as we headed into the final ten.
The Red V’s attack kept proving to be strong, inching closer to their line. A quick pass from Bridge to Mottershead helped the hooker find a gap, evade a few defenders before diving over the try line, with no one to catch her at speed. Gaskin did a great conversion, adding to the score, 6-34.
St.Helens grabbed one more in the final with one minute left, Cunningham finished some well controlled play by her teammates. Gaskin was able to get the conversion making the final score 6-40.
View this post on Instagram
Match Summary
Barrow team: Charlotte Todhunter, Chloe Capstick, Shannon Parker, Kelly Friend, Claire Hutchinson, Kerrie-Ann Smith, Beth Pattinson, Mia Dobson, Beth Lindsay, Jodie Morley, Emily Stirzaker, Vanessa Temple, Nicole Stewart.
Interchanges: Leah Cottier, Jodie Crawford, Fran Harley, Leah Clough
Try: Stewart (10)
Conversion: Stewart 1/1
St.Helens team: Beri Salihi, Phoebe Hook, Erin Stott, Amy Hardcastle, Rachael Woosey, Amy Taylor, Faye Gaskin, Naomi Williams, Katie Mottershead, Darcy Stott, Shona Hoyle, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham.
Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Caitlin Casey, Erin McDonald, Alyx Bridge
Tries: Hook (27,34), Woosey (47,50), Whitfield (56), Cunningham (62, 79), Mottershead (73)
Conversions: Gaskin 4/8
