Women beaten in Derby

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women defeated by St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
• Wigan scored a sole try through Grace Banks.
• FT | St Helens 26-4 Wigan Warriors.

Wigan Warriors Women fell to defeat in an entertaining encounter against St Helens in the Women’s Derby at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

A youthful Wigan side showed great heart in an entertaining Derby Day, including a sensational effort from 17-year-old half back Grace Banks in the opening half but with Saints crossing for three tries they trailed 14-4 at the interval.

St Helens crossed for two converted tries in the second half to hand Wigan their first loss of 2023, despite some spirited defensive efforts throughout the second forty for Wigan

Report

Wigan had one of the best chances of the early exchanges as Eva Hunter broke through the center of the field to race deep into the St Helens half, but the following tackle saw the ball come loose for Saints to survive the early scare.

In the following set Wigan held firm in defence but a testing last play kick to the corner from Harris saw Wigan spill the ball in the air for Saints to get a fresh set. Burke had eyes for the corner but a good cover tackle denied them as Leah Burke was forced off the field through injury.

Zoe Harris opened the scoring in the 7th minute as she spotted a gap and darted over from close range. Amy Taylor couldn’t add the conversion but Saints had the 4-0 lead.

Wigan had a good opportunity in the 13th minute as a knock on from Harris saw them ask the questions on the St Helens goal line, the hosts denied Wigan but the kick on the last saw Travis collect before the Warriors forced her behind the line for a goal line drop out to get them back on the attack.

Wigan were caught out with an offside call deep in their own half and St Helens capitalised with a strong run from Shona Hoyle to get over for the second try of the after, which Amy Taylor converted to make it 10-0 after 20 minutes.

Grace Banks got Wigan on the board in the 33rd minute as she broke down the right edge before racing almost the full length of the field to touch down close to the sticks, Burrows was unable to convert the effort and it was 10-4.

🔥 WHAT. A. TRY.

Grace Banks showing off all of her speed as she goes from one end to the other in a flash!#WWRL | @WiganWarriorsRL

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) June 11, 2023

Tara Jones hit back for the hosts right before the half time break, managing to ground the ball before being put out of play by Banks. Amy Taylor was unable to convert to see Saints in with a 14-4 lead at the break.

St Helens crossed first in the second half as an overlap on the lap saw Luci McColm into space, Banks did well to get a tackle in to free the ball but the error went unseen with a try awarded, which Taylor converted to send the score to 20-4.

St Helens added a fifth try through a break from Eboni Partington in the 53rd minute, as Amy Taylor added another conversion to make it 26-4.

The final twenty minutes was littered with stoppages owing to the heat conditions, but Wigan put in some solid defence to deny Saints any further scores as the game finished 26-4.

Gallery:

St Helens: Zoe Harris, Rebecca Rotheram, Eboni Partington, Luci McColm, Leah Burke, Faye Gaskin, Amy Taylor, Pip Birchall, Tara Jones, Shona Hoyle, Paige Travis, Emily Rudge, Naomi Williams.

Interchange: Vicky Whitfield, Alyx Bridge, Katie Mottershead, Megan Williams.

18th Player: Hannah Roberts.

Tries: Harris (7′), Hoyle (20′), Jones (37′), McColm (46′), Partington (53′)

Goals: Taylor 2/4

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

Interchange: Emma Dwyer, Bethany Hayes, Lucy Johnson, Gabi Leigh.

18th Player: Olivia Harborow.

Tries: Banks (33′)

Goals: Burrows 0/1

Header Photo: Jess Hornby