Women lose out to Leeds

• Wigan Warriors Women lose at home to Leeds Rhinos Women.
• Anna Davies and Mary Coleman crossed for efforts in the defeat.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 12-48 Leeds Rhinos.

The Warriors showed many positives against Leeds as Emma Davies made her debut in Cherry & White in a 48-12 defeat at Robin Park Arena. 

An afternoon of mixed conditions as Wigan handed Emma Davies (Thatto Heath and Liverpool St Helens RU) a first start alongside the returning Gabi Leigh, Kerrie Evans and Sinead Doria with Becky Greenfield side-lined due to injury.

The Rhinos opened the scoring in the fifth minute as Zoe Hornby finished off a battling set to cross for a try which Courtney Winfield-Hill converted for 6-0. Leeds extended the lead on 11 minutes as Winfield-Hill sprayed a pass to Caitlin Beevers on the wing to touch down and Winfield-Hill converted for 12-0.

Wigan responded with a Mary Coleman dash that saw her denied with the line in sight on 14 minutes before a stunning try to cut the gap in the 19th minute. A perfectly lofted last tackle kick from Georgia Wilson saw her collect the ball and offload for Anna Davies who raced over to the joy of the home crowd, Wilson swept over the conversion for 12-6.

Leeds restored their two score lead with a close range try from Hornby as she claimed her second and Winfield-Hill kicked for 18-6. Winfield-Hill crossed for a try of her own on the half hour mark and swept over the resulting conversion for a 24-6 lead. The half ended with a cleverly worked try for Leeds as Sam Hulme picked out Hanna Butcher who touched down and with Winfield-Hill unable to convert the side went into the interval at 28-6.

Wigan’s second half game-plan saw an instant dent as a short kick off from the restart saw a pacy set  which Caitlin Beevers finished off with a try which Winfield-Hill improved for 34-6. Wigan responded superbly as Carys Marsh broke the line to gain huge metres which led to a passing play that saw Mary Coleman dive over for a try on 46 minutes, Wilson converting for 34-12.

Zoe Hornby complete her hat-trick as she collected a Winfield-Hill offload on 52 minutes with the Leeds half converting for the 40point mark at 40-12. Wigan came close to a stunning reply as a rapid tap and run from Kaitlin Hilton saw her reach half-way before being tackled, the set itself ending without success. 

Leeds wrapped up the two points with Beevers completing her brace and hat-trick in the space of eight minutes, firstly touching down after a Hornby offload from Winfield’s lofted kick and collecting from Winfield-Hill’s offload for her third. Winfield-Hill was unable to convert either score as the Rhinos completed a 48-12 victory.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Georgia Wilson ,Gabi Leigh, Anna Davies, Kaitlin Hilton, Kerrie-Rose Evans, Bethany Hayes,  Carys Marsh, Holly Speakman, Emma Dwyer, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Georgia Lake, Mary Coleman, Cerys Jones.

Interchange: Abbie-Marie Singleton, Freya Hellin, Sinead Doria, Emma Davies. 

Tries: A.Davies (19′), Coleman (46′)

Goals: Wilson 2/2

Leeds Rhinos: Fran Goldthorp, Sophie Nuttall, Hanna Butcher, Caitlin Beevers, Sam Hulme, Courtney Winfield-Hill, Emma Lumley, Keara Bennett, Danielle Anderson, Chloe Kerrigan, Adahoa Akwiwu, Zoe Hornby. 

Interchange: Elle Frain, Beth Lockwood, Aimee Staveley, Ella Johnson.

Tries: Hornby (5′, 22′, 41′), Winfield-Hill (31′), Butcher (38′), Beevers (11′, 63′, 71′)

Goals: Winfield-Hill 6/9

Header image: Brian King