St Helens Women nilled Bradford, running in 14 tries of their own, as they beat the Yorkshire side 76-0 on Sunday afternoon at Thatto Heath’s Crusader Park!

It took just two minutes for the first Red V score. Bradford knocked on in midfield, Saints then marched downfield and Amy Taylor threw a great cut-out pass to allow Leah Burke to dive over in the corner. Taylor converted the try from the left touchline, 6-0 we led. Try number two followed four minutes later. The visitors once again dropped the ball in midfield and that allowed forward Shona Hoyle to pick up the loose ball and race under the sticks to score. Taylor converted again, 12-0 to the hosts.

Saints then grabbed another to make it three tries in the first ten minutes. Bradford threw a forward pass in midfield which gave the hosts a scrum. From it the ball went left as Taylor found Rotheram, who found Burke to race away for her second. Taylor was unable to convert, 16-0. In the 17th minute, Saints had a fourth try. Zoe Harris kicked early as she saw Bradford had no winger back, new Saints signing Danielle McGifford made the most of that space, as she raced away and picked up the loose ball to score under the sticks. Taylor converted, 22-0.

A fifth try soon followed. On the last under the Bradford sticks, Saints moved the ball left and it found its way to Emily Rudge, she found Eboni Partington, who was able to power over in the corner. Taylor was unable to add the two, 26-0. Number six came on the half-hour mark. The Red V once again had all the pressure as they camped on the Bradford line. That allowed Pip Birchall to spin her way over from close range for her first ever Saints try. Taylor added another two, 32-0.

Saints’ seventh and final try of the half came seven minutes before the break. The ball was moved right, as Naomi Williams fed McGifford who broke a tackle before racing over for her second try of the afternoon. Taylor converted again, 38-0.

The scoring didn’t stop in the second half, as the eighth try followed two minutes in. Partington broke again down the left edge before fending off some Bulls defenders to score in the corner. Taylor was unable to convert, 42-0. Two minutes later, another four points. Taylor fed Chantelle Crowl the ball close to the visitors’ sticks and she span over from close range. Taylor converted, 48-0.

Try number ten came in the 50th minute. Tara Jones was held up over the Bradford line which pushed Saints back to the ten. The very next tackle the ball was fed to Hoyle who went over for her second try of the day. Taylor added the two, 54-0. Soon after another try, this time Jones with a great break down the heart of the Bulls defence, she then found Alyx Bridge on her outside who strolled over for her first Saints try. Taylor converted again, 60-0.

Tries continued to come. This time Jones was able to get her head through the Bulls line, before throwing an offload to the supporting Crowl to go under the sticks for her second try. Taylor converted again, 66-0. After a crucial hand in several second half scores, Jones was then able to grab one for herself. Saints were held up close to the line, Jones spotted a gap and made the most of it to score. Taylor converted again, 72-0.

The 14th and final try came five minutes from time. Saints shifted the ball left and that allowed Hannah Roberts to cross for her first Red V try. Taylor was unable to convert, 76-0. A very good pre-season outing for St Helens Women, as they comfortably beat Bradford Bulls 76-0 in Matty Smith’s first game as Head Coach, at Thatto Heath’s Crusader Park!

Match Summary

St Helens Women Team: Rebecca Rotheram, Danielle McGifford, Eboni Partington, Naomi Williams, Leah Burke, Zoe Harris, Amy Taylor, Shona Hoyle, Tara Jones, Darcy Stott, Alyx Bridge, Emily Rudge, Chantelle Crowl.

Interchanges: Luci McColm, Paige Travis, Vicky Whitfield, Pip Birchall, Katie Mottershead, Megan Williams, Hannah Roberts.

Tries: Leah Burke (2, 10), Shona Hoyle (6, 50), Danielle McGifford (17, 33), Eboni Partington (22, 42), Pip Birchall (30), Chantelle Crowl (44, 66), Alyx Bridge (62), Tara Jones (72), Hannah Roberts (75)

Conversions: Amy Taylor (10 from 14)

Bradford Bulls Women Team: Bethany MacMillan, Megan Twigger, Sarah Garland, Bailey Alexander, Lily Williams, Lara Dalby, Millie Bell, Millen Downs, Evie Kilburn, Alice Fisher, Ellena Powell, Jessica Harrap, Ebony Haley.

Interchanges: Ellen Strafford, Katy Tordoff, Claire Collins, Jess Malik, Lucy Butterfield, Abigail Pinder, Niamh Bellerby.

Tries:

Conversions:

HT: 38-0

FT: 76-0