Women defeated in Derby
- Wigan Women lost their final Play-Off game against St Helens to see their season come to an end.
- Saints crossed for ten tries as the Women were held scoreless.
- FT | St Helens 52-0 Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Women were defeated at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday afternoon to see their 2021 season come to an end.
The Warriors were held scoreless away in the Derby as a relentless St Helens side took the 52-0 victory. The Warriors saw Emily Baggaley, Anna Davies and Georgia Wilson forced from the field with injury in a bitter end to the Women’s season.
Report
Emily Stirzaker returned to the starting line-up following a few weeks out with a knee injury, Paige Costello missed out after suffering a torn quadricep. Aimee Wood filled in the full back position with Carys Marsh and Clare Radford teaming up once again in the halves.
Carrie Roberts opened the scoring for St Helens after just two minutes, the hosts created the overlap to see the winger race in at the right edge for the score. The conversion from Beth Stott was wide but St Helens had the early 4-0 lead.
From the kick off Wigan forced the goal line drop out to get an attacking set from 30m out. The Warriors completed a good set but the grubber on the last was collected by a Saints shirt to put them back in possession, though deep in their own territory.
Saints extended their lead in the 9th minute, Rachael Woosey finishing off the score after a line break from Danielle Bush, Stott again missed the extras and St Helens led 8-0.
St Helens added a third in the 28th minute, Tara Jones breaking through a gap this time and having Carrie Roberts in support to go over under the sticks, the conversion was successful this time from Stott to give St Helens the 14-0 advantage.
Wigan had their best chance of the half just moments later, trying to find some space to work into they came close through Vicky Molyneux before Emily Stirzaker was meters short, Carys Marsh had the last dart but the Saints defence held firm to keep Wigan out and see the host in to the break with the 14-0 lead.
St Helens started the second half quickly, with Paige Travis going over shortly after the restart, before Woosey added her second of the afternoon, both converted by Stott to see the hosts out to 26-0.
The Warriors testing kicks from Clare Radford were causing plenty of issues for the Saints full back, as Woosey knocked on 30m from her own goal line to allow Wigan a full set in attack, but the Warriors still couldn’t find a way over the whitewash.
Alice Sandham extended Saints’ lead just short of the hour mark, forcing her way over close to the sticks despite the Warriors best defensive efforts, Stott added her fourth conversion of the afternoon to put the hosts at 32-0.
Saints were on the move again but three huge tackles from Georgia Wilson stopped their progress and forced an error from Amy Hardcastle to get the ball back with the Warriors and relieve them of their defensive work. Wilson forced another error shortly afterwards with her kick on the last dropped under no pressure from Zoe Harris to give Wigan a set from 20m out, Leah Darbyshire went close before getting it to Molyneux who couldn’t wrap the ball up.
St Helens added a further two scores, Leah Burke going in at the right corner before Amy Hardcastle raced away. Naomi Williams finished off a left to right effort to crash over, the effort not converted by Stott for 46-0.
Hardcastle rounded off the afternoon for the hosts, seeing her effort converted from the touchline by Stott to seal a 52-0 win and to inflict a fourth defeat for Wigan in the 2021 Betfred Super League Play-Offs.
St Helens: Rachael Woosey, Danielle Bush, Amy Hardcastle, Carrie Roberts, Leah Burke, Beth Stott, Zoe Harris, Isabelle Rudge, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Naomi Williams, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham.
Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Paige Travis, Pip Birchall, Alice Sandham.
Tries: Roberts (2′, 28′), Woosey (9′, 45′), Travis (43′), Sandham (54′), Burke (67′), Hardcastle (70′, 79′), Williams (74′)
Goals: Stott 6/10
Wigan Warriors: Aimee Wood, Georgia Wilson, Emily Baggaley, Emily Stirzaker, Anna Mary Davies, Carys Marsh, Clare Radford, Lucy Baggaley, Emma Dwyer, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Victoria Molyneux, Megan Bragg, Holly Speakman.
Interchanges: Freya Hellin, Leah Darbyshire, Beth Hayes, Kaitlin Hilton.
