Women beat Featherstone on road

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women beat Featherstone Rovers Ladies in the Challenge Cup Group stages.
• Anna Davies and Holly Speakman with the two tries on the afternoon.
• FT | Featherstone Rovers Ladies 10-12 Wigan Warriors Women.

Wigan Warriors Women made it two wins from two in the Challenge Cup group stages with a narrow win over Featherstone Rovers Ladies on the road on Sunday afternoon.

Rachel Thompson came off the interchange to make her first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury 20-months ago, as the Warriors battled hard to snatch the win late on in the game to remain unbeaten in 2023 and confirming another win in the Challenge Cup group stages.

Report

The opening stages of the game were an arm wrestle as both teams went toe-to-toe. Tally Bryer put on the footwork with a double chip over the top as she looked to get the hosts ahead early on but the ball was seen out of play to remain scoreless.

Kaitlin Hilton had the best chance of the opening exchanges as she broke away after a nice pass from Alison Burrows but the Warriors winger was clattered by a Featherstone player over the goal line before the ball was grounded as the deadlock was upheld.

Anna Davies did break the deadlock though on 17 minutes as she received a pass to the wings and despite having Chloe Billington hanging off her shirt, Davies powered towards the line to open the scoring. Salihi was unable to convert the effort and it was 4-0 in favour of the Warriors.

After a lot of pressure on the Featherstone goal line, Wigan extended their lead a few minutes later as penalty allowed Wigan to start a set 20m out as Lucy Johnson took in a good drive before Grace Banks weaved her way towards the goal line before being stopped short. Prop forward Holly Speakman did crashed over on the next tackle though as she evaded a number of defenders to get the ball down, with Salihi adding the extras on this occasion to put Wigan to 10-0.

Featherstone did respond though as they grabbed a try with five minutes to go until half-time, Amie Backhouse scored the effort after chasing a good kick through to the corner and easing over which wasn’t converted to see the score at 10-4 to Wigan at the interval.

Featherstone levelled the scores on 65 minutes as Tally Bryer finished off an intercepted effort under the sticks, converting her own score for 10-10.

With a tense final few minutes to go, Wigan got a penalty in front of the sticks for a high shot on Kaitlin Hilton as they opted to take the kick, which full back Beri Salihi slotted over with ease to make it 12-10. Despite the slight advantage Featherstone threatened a late score as Brooke Price got the ball on the right edge but a huge tackle from Molly Jones saw the Featherstone player into touch right before the goal line to complete the victory for Wigan.

Gallery:

Featherstone Rovers: Fran Copley, Lucy Attree, Chloe Billington, Ella Johnson, Brooke Price, Danielle Waters, Tally Bryer, Shanelle Mannion, Charley Blackburn, Kirsty Duffield, Amie Backhouse, Kacey Davies, Ellie Mae Wainhouse.

Interchange: Brogan Kennedy, Gabby Harrison, Rachel Eastwood, Hailey Swann.

18th Player: Jess Lee.

Tries: Backhouse (35′), Bryer (65′)

Goals: Bryer 1/2

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

Interchange: Cerys Jones, Jodie Morris, Lucy Johnson, Rachel Thompson.

18th Player: Emma Dwyer.

Tries: Davies (17′), Speakman (24′)

Goals: Salihi 2/3