Saints Women send out big statement with opening day win!

Saints Women ran in 16 tries as they beat Bradford Bulls Women in the opening fixture of the Betfred Women’s season – their first game for 18 months.

Saints took a ninth minute lead, Carrie Roberts forcing her way over from close range for her first try on her debut. Faye Gaskin missed the conversion, 4-0. Four minutes later, we had our second. Good work down the right from Rachael Woosey and Carrie Roberts ended with Jodie Cunningham breaking down the middle and she scored underneath the sticks. Gaskin added the extra two to make it 10-0.

Gaskin then added her own try in the 16th minute, breaking through a tackle before running towards the sticks. She converted her own try, Saints led 16-0. Another try followed shortly after, a great cut-out pass from Emily Rudge found debutant and former Bull, Amy Hardcastle, and she burst through a gap to score against her former club. Gaskin again added the extras, 22-0.

Danielle Bush scored on the left wing shortly afterwards, Gaskin converting again for 28-0. Two minutes later Saints capitalised from a Bradford mistake, Rudge powering over from close range. Gaskin added the extra two, 34-0. Saints had another on the half-hour mark. A great offload by Chantelle Crowl set Rudge free, she then found Hardcastle on her outside and she strolled in for her second of the game. Gaskin added the extra two again, 40-0.

There was time for one more before the half came to a close. Cunningham found Rachel Woosey on the wing and she scored underneath the sticks for her debut try. Gaskin added the extras, 46-0. Cunningham then scored her second of the game shortly. Score the break with Gaskin adding the extras to make it 52-0 at the break.

Saints picked up where they left off two minutes into the second half. After forcing a knock on from the Bulls, Gaskin threw the ball to Roberts on the right and she added her second of the game. Gaskin missed the extra two, 56-0. In the 47th minute the Saints had their eleventh try of the game. Rudge found a lot of space down the left side and powered her way though for her second. Gaskin added the two, 62-0.

The Saints marked the 50th minute with another try. A flowing move ended with Carrie Roberts completing her hattrick in the right corner. Gaskin missed the conversion, 66-0. Four minutes later Saints found more space down the left which allowed Bush to score her second of the game. Gaskin missed, 70-0.

Just before the hour mark former Bradford centre Hardcastle completed her first Saints hat-trick in the left corner after being found by Cunningham. Gaskin missed from the left touchline, 74-0. There was more to come, Chantelle Crowl got in on the act with a good step close to the line. Gaskin added the extras, 80-0. Cunningham then completed her hattrick at the end of the game after rounding the Bulls defence to score under the sticks. Gaskin converted, 86-0.

Match Summary:

Saints 13: Rebecca Rotheram, Rachael Woosey, Carrie Roberts, Amy Hardcastle, Danielle Bush, Beth Stott, Faye Gaskin, Dawn Akrigg, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Darcy Stott, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham.

Interchanges: Hannah Goodburn, Pip Birchall, Eboni Partington, Naomi Williams.

Tries: Carrie Roberts (3), Amy Hardcastle (3), Jodie Cunningham (3), Danielle Bush (2), Emily Rudge (2), Rachael Woosey, Chantelle Crowl, Faye Gaskin.

Conversions: Faye Gaskin from 11 from 16)

Bradford 13: Sarah Dunn, Linda McLean, Savannah Andrade, Kacy Haley, Bethany MacMillan, Stacey Greenwood, Danielle Bose, Gabriella Adams-Gavet, Grace Ramsden, Ebony Haley, Olivia Wood, Jessica Harrap, Evie Kilburn

Interchanges: Hannah Donald, Millie Taylor, Alice Fisher, Adara Telemacque

Half time: 52-0

Full time: 86-0