Women beat Cardiff in Cup

• Wigan score eight tries in Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup.
• Kaitlin Hilton and Mary Coleman score a brace of tries each in South Wales.
• FT | Cardiff Demons 20-38 Wigan Warriors Women.

Wigan Warriors women’s team ran out 20-38 winners in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup on Sunday, in a game played in South Wales.

Wigan’s women’s team made a good start to their Challenge Cup campaign forcing Cardiff Demons into two errors in the first 90 seconds that led to winger Kaitlin Hilton giving Wigan the lead.

Similar slips gave Cardiff the chance to level. But after winning a goal-line drop-out, Kaitlin Hubbert was held up over the line.

Wigan’s advantage was doubled on 13 minutes when Anna Davies fed Molly Jones to score. Davies quickly followed her over straight from the scrum, but again Beri Salihi failed with another difficult conversion in windy conditions.

Demons struck back on 21 minutes. A good passing move led to debutant Hubbert scoring out wide. Shaunni Davies converted well.

Mary Coleman went in for Wigan’s fourth try of the day, put in nicely by Alison Burrows on the last play of the set. Salihi off target with conversion. Wigan led 6-16.

With half-time approaching, goalkicker Sahili managed to get her name on the scoresheet running onto a pass from Grace Banks, but Sahili was unable to add to her try missing the conversion.

There was still time for another try before the break, and it was Grace Banks the provider again putting Mary Coleman in for her second try of the game. This time Salihi negotiated the wind to convert and Wigan led 6-26 at halftime.

Cardiff scored first in the second half, just 90 seconds after the restart as Ffion Jones dived over. Davies missed the kick.

Wigan hit back just three minutes later when Kaitlin Hilton scored her second try of the game and Salihi converted well.

Cardiff again struck back as former Wales rugby union international Amy Price dived over from acting-half for a try on her league debut. Davies converted.

At 32-16 up with ten minutes to go, it was Grace Banks who sealed the victory for Wigan. Again, Salihi converted.

Eleri Michael’s unconverted try was a consolation score for Cardiff.

Wigan Warriors Women: Beri Salihi, Kaitlin Hilton, Rebecca Greenfield, Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Grace Banks, Alison Burrows, Holly Speakman, Cays Marsh, Bethany Hayes, Eva Hunter, Mary Coleman, Victoria Molyneux.

Interchange: Cerys Jones, Jodie Morris, Lucy Johnson, Emma Davies.

Tries: Hilton 2, Jones, Davies, Sahili, Coleman 2, Banks

Goals: Sailihi 3/8