Women defeat Red Devils in Challenge Cup
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women beat Salford Red Devils in final Challenge Cup Group game.
- Grace Banks crossed for a hat-trick of tries as Wigan scored eleven unanswered tries.
- FT | Wigan Warriors Women 60-0 Salford Red Devils Women.
Wigan Warriors Women made it a clean sweep in the Challenge Cup Group stages with a win over Salford Red Devils at Robin Park Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Wigan flew out of the blocks as Gabi Leigh crossed in the right corner after just one minute of play. Full back Beri Salihi lofted the pass over to Leigh on the wing to finish off the move.
On 10 minutes, Molly Jones went in at the opposite corner with the winger being the last pass from quick hands, before Becky Greenfield added a third back in the right hand corner following great build-up play from Grace Banks. The first three scores were unconverted and it was 12-0.
Salford held Wigan well following the opening three tries and it wasn’t until after the half hour mark when Wigan struck again. A provider so far in the match, Grace Banks then turned scorer – Salihi put in a great kick return to send Grace Banks carving her way past the defence. The score was converted by Molly Jones for 18-0.
Banks added her second just minutes later, backing up Eva Hunter who made a great carry before sending Banks dancing past the defence again. Molly Jones added the conversion to see Wigan in with a 24-0 lead at the half time break.
Wigan mirrored their start in the second half, as Beth Hayes off the interchange bench made an instant impact. A kick from Victoria Molyneux found the prop forward to go in under the sticks, with Burrows – also off the bench – converted for 30-0.
Another interchange made their mark in the 59th minute as Kaitlin Hilton put on a stunning individual play as she weaved her way through the field to score Burrows converted again for 36-0.
Banks completed her hat-trick just after the hour mark, backing up a great drive from fellow youngster Lucy Johnson to score her third and Wigan’s eighth of the afternoon. Burrows was on target again to edge Wigan further ahead.
Lucy Johnson was the next player to add her name to the tally, as she put in another impressive drive before crashing over the line and Burrows was in fine form from the tee to make it 48-0.
Wigan’s forwards were making light work of the Salford defence as Beth Hayes went in for a brace in the 74th minute, powering in under the uprights, before Molly Jones also made it a brace of tries immediately after as she provided support on the left wing after an Emma Dwyer break. Burrows made it six from six conversions to confirm a 60-0 win for the Warriors.
Following wins against Cardiff Demons, Featherstone Rovers and Salford Red Devils in the Challenge Cup group stages, Wigan will be in the draw for the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup. Full draw details can be found HERE.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors: Beri Salihi, Rebecca Greenfield, Gabi Leigh, Eva Hunter, Molly Jones, Grace Banks, Carys Marsh, Holly Speakman, Emma Dwyer, Lucy Johnson, Victoria Molyneux, Mary Coleman, Cerys Jones.
Interchange: Bethany Hayes, Kerrie Evans, Alison Burrows, Kaitlin Hilton.
18th Player: Olivia Harborow.
Tries: Leigh (1′), M.Jones (10′, 76′), Greenfield (13′), Banks (32, 35′, 64′), Hayes (47′, 74′), Hilton (59′), Johnson (68′)
Goals: Greenfield 0/2, M.Jones 2/3, Burrows 6/6
Salford Red Devils: Sage Bannister, Lauren Ellison, Steph Gray, Victoria Kini, Alex Simpson, Louise Fellingham, Demi-Lea Jones, Megan Condliffe, Tamzin Corcoran, Emerald Hickey, Abigail Collins, Summer Harris, Brogan Evans.
Interchange: Hannah Wicks, Samantha Evans, Yasmin Parton-Sotomayor, Darcey Price.
18th Player: Laura Bent
Referee: Sam Houghton.
