Women defeated in Derby
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women lose narrowly against St Helens Women at The Brick Community Stadium.
- Ellise Derbyshire and Eva Hunter crossed for the Warriors.
- FT | Wigan Warriors Women 12-16 St Helens Women.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women fall to a narrow defeat in the derby at The Brick Community Stadium.
St Helens had the best of the opening half as a Rachael Woosey double saw the visitors in at the break with a 10-0 advantage.
A tight second half contest saw Ellise Derbyshire cross for Wigan before Vicky Whitfield responded for St Helens. A fantastic try from Eva Hunter finished off the contest as Wigan fell to a narrow 16-12 defeat in the Derby.
Report
Saints had the best opportunity of the opening stages as Luci McColm went through a gap but Isabel Rowe got her body under the St Helens Centre to hold her up over the line and deny the try. Wigan came up with an error close to their own goal line shortly afterwards as the visitors had an overlap on the left to see Rachael Woosey over for the opener. Gaskin added the extras to make it 6-0.
St Helens went close again in the 18th minute as a grubber kick through was chased by Tara Jones but the Saints hooker knocked on as she tried to ground the ball as Wigan got the ball back.
The visitors extended their lead in the 23rd minute as Rachael Woosey crossed for her second, again taking advantage of an overlap on the left to go over in the corner. A touchline conversion from Faye Gaskin dropped under the sticks and it was 10-0 to St Helens.
The Warriors had their best chance after half an hour as a good kick in behind from Foubister caught Salihi in-goal for a goal line drop out. The drop out fell to Wigan for another good set and it played through hands to the left edge but an error on the wing saw the Warriors unable to turn their possession into points at the end of the half.
Wigan started the second half well as they asked the questions and they finally got their reward in the 50th minute as a great cut-out ball from Foubister found Ellise Derbyshire on the left wing to dive over and cut the deficit. Rowe’s touchline conversion was on target and the scores were back within 4 as Saints led 10-6.
The Warriors had a great opportunity to level things with 15 minutes remaining as a testing ball from Rowe was allowed to bounce into the arms of Anna Davies who raced towards the corner but a good cover tackle from Cunningham denied the winger just meters short for the turnover and it remained 10-6 in St Helens’ favour.
The visitors extended their lead with 10 minutes to go as the referee awarded a six-again to St Helens for Vicky Whitfield to crash over from close range. Gaskin converted to make it 16-6.
Wigan tried their look to snatch back a score in the dying minutes but a kick through from Molyneux was too strong for Davies on the wing who saw the ball go dead before being able to get hold of the ball as St Helens made it 16-6.
A great flurry from Wigan with the final set of the game saw Jenna Foubister set up Eva Hunter for a try with a delightful chip over the top. Rowe converted the effort but it wasn’t enough for the Warriors who fell to a narrow 16-12 defeat.
Gallery:
Wigan Warriors Women: Grace Banks, Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Molly Jones, Ellise Derbyshire, Isabel Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Holly Speakman, Rease Casey, Alice Fisher, Mary Coleman, Victoria Molyneux, Rachel Thompson.
Interchange: Eva Hunter, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Cerys Jones, Carys Marsh.
18th Player: Kaitlin Hilton.
Tries: Derbyshire (50′), Hunter (79′)
Goals: Rowe 2/2
St Helens Women: Beri Salihi, Megan Williams, Luci McColm, Erin Stott, Rachael Woosey, Zoe Harris, Faye Gaskin, Vicky Whitfield, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Paige Travis, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham.
Interchange: Naomi Williams, Katie Mottershead, Darcy Stott, Pip Birchall.
18th Player: Pip Birchall.
Tries: Woosey (8′, 23′), Whitfield (71′)
Goals: Gaskin 2/3
