Women miss out on Semi Finals

• Wigan Warriors Women beaten by York City Knights Ladies at the Mobile Rocket Stadium.
• Wigan drop out of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup after a close contest on Sunday afternoon.
• FT | York City Knights Ladies 30-24 Wigan Warriors Women.

Wigan Warriors Women were narrowly beaten 30-24 by a revamped York City Knights side in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Rachel Thompson crossed for a double, with other scores from Anna Mary Davies, Rebecca Greenfield and Emily Stirzaker but it wasn’t enough to edge past the York City Knights on Sunday afternoon. 

It was York who started the game more brightly, forcing an error from the kick-off and getting a six again call to set Rhiannion Marshall away before sending Grace Field through to score the opener under the sticks, converted for 6-0 York after three minutes. 

The Warriors hit back in the 12th minute, Wigan made good yards into York territory to see Davies running it in at the right corner, the conversion was unsuccessful and it was 6-4. Skipper Thompson was next to go over, stepping inside to fool the York defenders and get the ball down to put Wigan 8-4 ahead.

Bettie Lambert was next to cross for York, finding space on the right edge to squeeze in at the corner and converted by Marshall for 12-8. Wigan hit back moments later though, Greenfield throwing the dummy and sneaking over, Georgia Wilson converting to put Wigan back ahead at 14-12.

With five minutes to go until half time, Greenfield was involved again running the ball through the middle before the ball went out left to Stirzaker to crash over in the corner, another unsuccessful conversion put Wigan at 18-12. York clawed one back right on the stroke of half time through Melissa Halstead, with Marshall converting again to send it in even, 18-18 at the break.

York went over for the first of the second half, Grace Field getting her second after dropping onto a grubber kick under the sticks, the Knights finding themselves 24-18 ahead. Wigan were penned in their half on a few occasions afterwards and despite working hard could not get themselves on the York goal line.

Wigan’s Thompson finished off an excellent team try in the 64th minute, Victoria Molyneux getting the ball to Greenfield to break the line and send Thompson away for an easy score and converted by Wilson to level things once more at 24 each.

York sealed the tie though and sent Wigan out of the Betfred Challenge Cup with a Field try three minutes from time, to take the 30-24 win.

York City Knights Ladies:  Kelsey Gentles, Bettie Lambert, Tamzin Renouf, Savannah Andrade, Melissa Halstead, Rhiannion Marshall, Katie Langan, Alisha Clayton, Sinead Peach, Grace Field, Olivia Wood, Daisy Sanderson, Elsbeth Innes.

Interchanges: Georgia Taylor, Deanna Limbert, Alexandra Stimpson, Mary Tiplady.

Tries: Field (3’, 49’, 76’), Lambert (21’), Halstead (40’)

Goals: Marshall 5/5

Wigan Warriors Women: Rebecca Greenfield, Anna Mary Davies, Emily Baggaley, Emily Stirzaker, Georgia Wilson, Rachel Thompson, Alison Burrows, Holly Speakman, Carys Marsh, Lucy Baggaley, Vanessa Temple, Amy Boardman, Victoria Molyneux.

Interchanges:  Jade Gregory-Haselden, Paige Costello, Leah Darbyshire, Aimee Wood.

Tries: Davies (12’), Thompson (17’, 64’), Greenfield (26’), Stirzaker (35’)

Goals: Wilson 2/4, Burrows 0/1