Wigan Women lose to York

  • Wigan Warriors Women lose to York City Knights Ladies at Robin Park Arena on Sunday afternoon.
  • Becky Greenfield scored the only effort for the Warriors.
  • FT | Wigan Warriors Women 6-20 York City Knights Ladies.

Two tries either side of half time for the York saw the visitors take the win despite a great early effort from Becky Greenfield on her return to the Wigan side.

Greenfield linked up well with Stacey Greenwood to break the deadlock in the first half but heavy pressure from the Knights saw them go over for four tries in response to take the two Play-Off points home on Sunday afternoon at Robin Park Arena.

Report

The Warriors had Greenfield returning at full back after missing last weekend’s fixture through illness, with Greenwood moving in to stand off. Clare Radford also came in at the halves – with Carys Marsh absent and in replacement of her younger sister Rachel Thompson who suffered a dislocated knee in the Castleford fixture.

York worked their way well up into the Wigan half but the defence was strong and a kick on the last from Sinead Peach trickled behind the dead ball line to give Wigan the 20m restart. Good energy from the Cherry and Whites saw them make big yards, Anna Mary Davies had a run down the left edge but once again the Warriors were forced into touch just short of the try line.
It was an encouraging early start for the Warriors who took the first set, with the kick on the last from Greenwood spilled forward by York to allow Wigan another full set within 30 meters, the Warriors put in some good early pressure but an effort on the right edge from Wood saw her bundled in to touch.

York had another fantastic opportunity as Peach dummied her way through a gap to send Rhiannon Marshall and Katie Langan through with a link-up but enormous defensive efforts saw the Warriors keep York out despite the early pressure.

Wigan opened the scoring in the 17th minute, winning back-to-back penalties to reward them with some good field possession. A well-worked try saw Greenwood feed the returning Greenfield who had a player over but had the space to go over herself and give Wigan the first score of the day. The effort was converted by Georgia Wilson for 6-0.

Wigan were almost over for a second moments later. A high kick from Greenwood wasn’t dealt with by York for the second time and Wigan started a new set from 20m out. The shift from left to right worked well by Leah Darbyshire on the right edge just couldn’t collect the ball to go in at the corner.

York were back in the game on the half hour mark, the kick to end the set wasn’t collected and Savannah Andrade had the ball back in hand as the referee waved for a set restart. The Knights powered forward and had the overlap for Langan to go over, converted to see the scores level at 6-6.

Just minutes later and York were over for a second, Andrade racing clear to get the score near the sticks, converted by Emma Hardy to see the visitors in with the 12-6 lead at half time. Wigan were forced to make three substitutions at the break with Greenfied, Greenwood and Darbyshire all picking up knocks in the first 40 minutes. York then looked to extend their lead early on as Peach crashed under the sticks but with a mass of Wigan bodies around her she spilled the ball over the line. 

The Knights did go over in the 49th minute however,Hardy spreading the ball out to Tamzin Renouf to race through for their third score, Hardy failed the conversion this time but the visitors held the 16-6 lead.

Wigan had a few good efforts following, Freya Hellin running hard and trying to work her way over, but despite some good Wigan pressure the Knights continued to keep them out. York had the best spell after this, asking a lot of questions of Wigan and the pressure told as Olivia Wood came just short before feeding Bettie Lambert on the right wing, giving York the 20-6 advantage with the last 20 minutes to come.

Wigan went agonisingly close immediately afterwards, a good testing kick from Wilson went to touch after being watched out by the Knights, allowing Wigan inside York territory. Vicky Molyneux crashed into the defensive line determined to get over the whitewash but the Knights wall was strong and forced the turnover deep inside their own half. 

Davies had a great chance on the left edge, she raced 20m evading two defenders but the third York player managed to halt her effort to deny the Warriors a chance of another score. Molyneux thought she’d got Wigan back in the game with a good kick chase from the boot of Aimee Wood, but the referee adjudged York to have touched the ball down first for the 20m restart.

From the restart York’s Marshall was helped from the field after suffering a suspected knee injury following a tackle. York threatened the goal line once more but a great interception from Vanessa Temple saw her race 50m before being brought down, the Warriors went close through Paige Costello before an offload from Emily Baggaley wasn’t dealt with and Wigan were denied a scoring opportunity once more.

With a minute left on the clock the Warriors had the ball in hand to try and create some magic but a dominant Knights defence prevented the opportunity to see the visitors to the 20-6 victory and to condemn the Wigan Women to a second consecutive defeat in the Betfred Women’s Super League Play-Offs. 


Wigan Warriors: 
Rebecca Greenfield, Anna Mary Davies, Georgia Wilson, Emily Baggaley, Leah Darbyshire, Stacey Greenwood, Clare Radford, Holly Speakman, Aimee Wood, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Paige Costello, Vanessa Temple, Vicky Molyneux.

Interchanges: 
Freya Hellin, Lucy Baggaley, Beth Hayes, Megan Bragg.

Tries: 
Greenfield (17’)

Goals: 
Wilson 1/1

York City Knights: Ashleigh Hyde, Rebecca Waterworth, Savannah Andrade, Tamzin Renouf, Olivia Howarth, Emma Hardy, Katie Langan, Alisha Clayton, Sinead Peach, Bev Langan, Emma Kershaw, Olivia Wood, Mary Tiplady.

Interchanges: 
Ellie Hendry, Bettie Lambert, Daisy Sanderson, Rhiannon Marshall.

Tries: 
K.Langan (31’), Andrade (39’), Renouf (49’), Lambert (60’)

Goals: 
Hardy 2/4

Sunday 05 September 2021