Women book Cup Semi-Final spot

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women beat Cardiff Demons to earn a Semi-Final spot.
• The Warriors scored nine tries to see off the Welsh outfit for the second time in a week.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 44-4 Cardiff Demons.

Wigan Warriors Women secured their Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final spot in a nine-try display over Cardiff Demons on Saturday afternoon.

Wigan opened the scoring after 6 minutes as Sinead Doria sent Mary Coleman crashing onto the ball from short range. Emma Knowles converted the score for 6-0.

Wigan crossed again on 13 minutes as a good overlap on the left saw full-back Isabel Rowe send Anna Davies through to cut inside and score close to the sticks. Knowles converted again to make it 12-0.

Wigan went close shortly afterwards as Abbie Singleton was held up before Rowe danced towards the line, however the youngster was stopped inches short. The following play saw a looping pass from Mary Coleman find Kaitlin Hilton to ease over on the right edge. Emma Knowles’ touchline conversion was short but it was 16-0 after the first quarter.

Just before the half hour, Rease Casey got her first try for Wigan after collecting and breaking the defensive line to go over. The conversion from Knowles was wide but it was 20-0.

Cardiff got a response before the break, as Eleri Michael crossed in the left corner despite Wigan’s best defensive efforts. Shaunni Davies couldn’t add the extras and the Warriors took a 20-4 advantage in at the interval.

Winger Cailey Miller went over almost immediately in the second half as Kaitlin Hilton got an offload away for Miller to ease in. Knowles couldn’t add the touchline conversion. Hilton turned provider to scorer in just a matter of minutes, the Centre was caught high but continued her run to race half the length of the field and go over under the sticks. Emma Knowles converted the score and it was 30-4.

Returning to the side, Grace Banks came off the bench in the second half. In the 58th minute, Banks received the ball before weaving her way through the defence and over for Wigan’s seventh score of the afternoon. Knowles couldn’t find the target with the extras but it was Wigan 34-4 going into the final quarter.

From the kick-off after Banks’ try the ball was shipped to Izzy Rowe who sneaked through the defence to race down the middle of the pitch and dive under the sticks for an exceptional solo score. Emma Knowles added the extras this time to make it 40-4.

Wigan finished off the afternoon as Mary Coleman was sent through a gap to run in her second of the afternoon, completing a second 44-4 victory over Cardiff Demons in a week and confirming a Semi-Final spot for Wigan Warriors Women.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Isabel Rowe, Cailey Miller, Kaitlin Hilton, Anna Davies, Ellise Derbyshire, Sinead Doria, Emma Knowles, Holly Speakman, Abbie Singleton, Alice Fisher, Rease Casey, Mary Coleman, Rachel Thompson.

Interchange: Cerys Jones, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Olivia Harborow, Grace Banks.

18th Player: Bethany Hayes.

Tries: Coleman (6′, 66′), Davies (13′), Hilton (21′, 49′), Casey (28′), Miller (41′), Banks (58′), Rowe (61′)

Goals: Knowles 4/9

Cardiff Demons: Brittony Price, Eleri Michael, Chelcey Greasley, Kaitlin Hubbert, Zoe Heeley, Shaunni Davies, Rhi Parker, Katie Carr, Jasmine Gibbons, Sara Jones, Bridget Jones, Charlie Mundy, Amy Price.

Interchange: Lauren Aitken, Ffion Jenkins, Kim Boaler, Ffion Jones.

18th Player: Lucia Davies.

Tries: Michael (32′)

Goals: Davies 0/1