Women defeated in derby

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women fall to defeat against St Helens Women.
• Gabi Leigh was the sole scorer at Robin Park Arena on Sunday afternoon.
• FT | Wigan Warriors Women 4-56 St Helens Women.

Wigan Warriors Women ended the regular Betfred Women’s Super League campaign with a 56-4 derby defeat to St Helens Women. 

A perfect start for the visitors saw Amy Hardcastle find Leah Burke who crossed on the wing inside the first minute with Beth Stott converting for 6-0. The lead then became 10-0 on 12 minutes as Rachael Woosey offloaded to Eboni Partington who crossed on the opposite wing but this time the conversion was missed.

Wigan barely had time to regroup as Saints were in again just two minutes later, Hardcastle breaking the line before picking out Rebecca Rotherham who touched down and Stott converted for 16-0.

Wigan had a few good sets in attack but were unable to penetrate the Saints line and on the half hour mark, Saints moved into a 22-0 lead as Rotherham found Woosey in space who crossed for a try which Stott improved. 

Saints wrapped up a dominant first half on the scoreboard with two late tries, Burke claiming her second by racing clear after benefitting from injuries to Georgia Wilson and Sinead Doria in the build-up and Hardcastle touching down after an Emily Rudge offload with Stott converting once for a 32-0 advantage into the interval.

Wigan came close to opening the scoring after the restart as Carys Marsh was denied with the line in sight but Saints soon extended their lead as Jodie Cunningham finished off a move that featured a Partington dash which was denied by strong Wigan defence, Stott converting for 38-0.

The lead became 44-0 just before the hour mark as Hardcastle found the run of Emily Rudge who crossed for a try which Stott converted. Wigan prevented the 50 as strong defence denied Tara Jones on 64 minutes. Saints did get the half century on 69 minutes though as Partington intercepted to race over with Stott kicking for 50-0.

A rapid dash on the wing saw Hardcastle claim her second try with Stott converting for a 56-0 lead. Wigan did have the last say though, Georgia Wilson’s kick and collect saw her cruelly denied a try by Partington who was sin binned.

The resulting set saw Becky Greenfield loft a kick which Gabi Leigh collected and touched down for a superb try and despite Wilson’s conversion missing, the home fans had something to celebrate. The final whistle sounded soon after with both sets of fans applauding the teams off the field as they move on to next week’s semi finals at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium.

Wigan Warriors: Georgia Wilson, Kaitlin Hilton, Anna Davies, Rachael House, Rebecca Greenfield, Sinead Doria, Carys Marsh, Freya Hellin, Abbie Singleton, Holly Speakman, Eva Hunter, Mary Coleman, Vicky Molyneux.

Interchanges: Jade Gregory-Haselden, Cerys Jones, Gabi Leigh, Beth Hayes.

Tries: Leigh (77’)

Goals: Wilson 0/1

St Helens: Rebecca Rotherham, Leah Burke, Amy Hardcastle, Rachael Woosey, Eboni Partington, Zoe Harris, Beth Stott, Isabelle Rudge, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Paige Travis, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham.

Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Shona Hoyle, Alice Sandham, Danielle Bush.

Tries: L Burke (1’, 35’), Partington (12’,69’), Rotherham (14’), Woosey (30’), Hardcastle (37’, 72’), Cunningham (55’), E Rudge (58’)

Goals: Stott 8/10

Sin Bin: Partington (75′)

By Simon Driscoll.