Women lose against Valkyrie

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women fall to defeat on the road to York Valkyrie.
• Eva Hunter crossed for the Warriors in the defeat.
• FT | York Valkyrie 40-6 Wigan Warriors Women.

Wigan Warriors Women were handed defeat on the road to York Valkyrie in a tough contest against the top of the league side on Sunday afternoon.

York crossed early at the LNER Stadium as Ellie Hendry found her way over in the left corner, with the conversion missed from Tara Stanley for 4-0.

The Warriors persevered for another 10 minutes before the introduction of Rhiannion Marshall saw the forward power her way over with a strong carry close to the sticks, converted by Stanley this time for 10-0.

The Valkyrie then added a quickfire double as Lacey Owen added York’s third as she spotted a gap to race through on 24 minutes, before Sinead Peach extended the lead from dummy half in the 28th minute.

The Warriors were defending stronger and forcing some errors as they bid to see out the first half without another score, but the home side did manage to cross just before the half time hooter as Lacey Owen registered her brace, seeing the hosts in with a 26-0 lead.

The second half saw a quick start for York, as Tara Stanley found her way over after just 2 minutes. Valkyrie forced a drop out from the Warriors which went straight to Renouf to send Stanley through for the score.

Just a few moments later, and Emma Kershaw added York’s seventh try, as she supported Stanley to collect a simple offload and get the ball down.

Wigan got their only try of the game in the 68th minute and it was a fantastic effort as a drop-off ball to Eva Hunter saw her run a fantastic line to go in to the left of the uprights, converted by Molly Jones for 32-6.

York rounded off the game with a final effort from Sade Rihari in the right corner. Whitehead couldn’t add the extras in the absence of Stanley who left the field in the second half as the game finished 40-6.

Gallery:

York Valkyrie: Tara Stanley, Ellie Hendry, Tamzin Renouf, Lacey Owen, Liv Whitehead, Sade Rihari, Liv Gale, Grace Field, Sinead Peach, Aimee Staveley, Savannah Andrade, Liv Wood, Jas Bell.

Interchange: Emma Kershaw, Rhiannion Marshall, Daisy Sanderson, Jess Sharp.

18th Player: Georgia Taylor

Tries: Hendry (7′), Marshall (17′), Owen (24′, 38′), Peach (28′), Stanley (42′), Kershaw (48′), Rihari (73′)

Goals: Stanley 4/7, Whitehead 0/1

Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks, Kaitlin Hilton, Anna Davies, Eva Hunter, Cailey Miller, Molly Jones, Bethany Hayes, Holly Speakman, Emma Dwyer, Lucy Johnson, Victoria Molyneux, Mary Coleman, Cerys Jones.

Interchange: Gabi Leigh, Jodie Morris, Olivia Harborow, Beri Salihi (unused).

18th Player: Rachel Thompson

Tries: Hunter (65′)

Goals: M.Jones 1/1