Warriors Women beat Valkyrie
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women win against York Valkyrie.
- The Warriors scored four tries in the victory.
- FT | York Valkyrie 10-18 Wigan Warriors Women.
Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women beat York Valkyrie for the first time since August 2019.
Wigan got off to a great start in the tie as Eva Hunter crossed after just three minutes. Ellise Derbyshire extended the lead ten minutes later before York hit back. Hunter crossed for her second of the afternoon on the half hour to give Wigan a 14-6 advantage at the turnaround.
An early second half try from Jenna Foubister extended Wigan’s lead and they held firm defensively until the 78th minute as Eboni Partington crossed for a second, but it was only a consolation as the Warriors took home the two-points.
Report
York had the best of the opening sets as they put pressure on the Warriors early on, forcing a goal line drop out.
A kick on the last from the Valkyrie went dead though to allow Wigan a 20m restart which they took full advantage of – Eva Hunter breaking the line to race away and score the opening try. Isabel Rowe was unable to convert from the touchline as Wigan led 0-4.
The good attacking flair was also backed up by positive defence from Wigan, as on 13 minutes they held up York Valkyrie under the sticks.
A stabbed kick through on the last from Tara Stanley again gave Wigan a 20m restart and they made it count once more. A great break from Anna Davies on the right got the Warriors deep into Valkyrie territory before good hands all the way to the left wing saw Ellise Derbyshire cross for the second of the day. Rowe was off target from the touchline as it was 0-8.
York got on the scoreboard in the 21st minute as an overlap on the left allowed Eboni Partington to shrug off a tackle on the wing to go over, which Tara Stanley converted to reduce the score to 6-8 in Wigan’s favour.
The Warriors hit back once more before the break though as Eva Hunter backed up Jenna Foubister, who got an arm free to offload the ball and see Hunter fly over for her second and Wigan’s third of the afternoon. Rowe converted and it was 6-14 to Wigan at the interval.
Wigan were hot out of the blocks again in the second half and getting close to the York goal line, they went over for a fourth. 17-year-old Jenna Foubister crashing over after shaking off a tackle from her opposite number. Rowe couldn’t convert but Wigan held the 6-18 lead.
Tara Stanley threatened to hit back for the Valkyrie with an inventive chip over the top just before the hour, the full-back collected her own kick but a huge defensive hit from the Warriors forced her to knock the ball on as Wigan stood firm in defence.
Grace Banks was close to extending Wigan’s lead as a dummy close to the York line almost caught out the Valkyrie defence, but a last ditch tackle saw Banks stopped inches short.
Valkyrie eventually reduced the deficit in the 78th minute as Eboni Partington squeezed in at the left corner, but Tara Stanley couldn’t add the extras and the Warriors saw the match out at 10-18 for an emphatic victory on the road!
Gallery:
York Valkyrie: Tara-Jane Stanley, Eboni Partington, Liv Gale, Eva Izumi, Emma Kershaw, Sade Rihari, Mahault Pommier, Liv Wood, Georgie Hetherington, Jess Sharp, Lacey Owen, Savannah Andrade, Megan Pakulis.
Interchange: Jas Bell, Lucy Eastwood, Evie Sexton, Lisa Parker.
18th Player: Carrie Roberts.
Tries: Partington (21′, 78′)
Goals: Stanley 1/2
Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks, Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Molly Jones, Ellise Derbyshire, Isabel Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Holly Speakman, Rease Casey, Mary Coleman, Eva Hunter, Vicky Molyneux, Rachel Thompson.
Interchange: Jade Gregory-Haselden, Cerys Jones, Bethany Hayes (unused), Carys Marsh.
18th Player: Kaitlin Hilton
Tries: Hunter (3′, 30′), Derbyshire (15′), Foubister (43′)
Goals: Rowe 1/4
