Warriors Women crowned Nines Champions
Wigan Warriors Women remained unbeaten to be crowned the 2024 women’s nines champions at sewell group craven park.
The Warriors advanced through the group stages with a perfect record following victories over York Valkyrie and Huddersfield Giants.
After overcoming Cardiff Demons in the semi-finals, the Warriors produced a dominant performance in the final to defeat Leeds Rhinos in a repeat of last year’s last two showdown.
Game One: Wigan Warriors 26-8 York Valkyrie.
The Warriors started the Women’s Nines Festival perfectly as Isabel Rowe raced away from deep inside her own half to touch down between the sticks inside 30 seconds before adding the extras herself for a 7-0 lead.
A handling error returned possession to the Warriors before play was worked wide to Grace Banks who accelerated around the Valkyrie defence to score a second try after four minutes.
Wigan stood firm in defence to overturn possession before a quick show of hands along the line found Eva Hunter who side-stepped the attempted tackle to race away and score.
York scored in the corner to make the score 15-4 at the break, however, an electric break from Anna Davies set Georgia Wilson up to score just after the restart with Rowe converting.
Valkyrie added a second unconverted try with 13 minutes on the clock, however, the Warriors scored the final points of the match when Jenna Foubister fantastically dummied through the York defence to score between the sticks before she added the conversion for a 26-8 win.
Game Two: Wigan Warriors 31-0 Huddersfield Giants.
The Warriors and the Giants remained equal in defence for the first minutes until a short pass from Foubister allowed Molly Jones to race clear down the left wing before grounding between the sticks as Rowe added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Wigan doubled their advantage before the break when possession was worked along the line to Mary Coleman who broke free from the tackle 40m out before bursting clear to score as Rowe successfully added the two with the final action of the half.
The Warriors raced away for a third try 40 seconds into the second half before a Huddersfield error from the restart presented the Warriors with a fresh set 30m out from which Rowe was able to spot a gap in the Giants defence to score her second try of the afternoon as she added the extras for a 27-0 lead.
A fifth and final try of the match was scored with four minutes remaining when Cailey Miller beat two tacklers to ground in the corner as a 31-0 win ensured the Warriors advanced to the semi-final as group winners.
Semi-Finals: Wigan Warriors 40-0 Cardiff Demons.
The Warriors faced Cardiff Demons in the Women’s Nines semi-final after the Welsh side finished group runners up following an important win over St Helens.
After an even start to the clash, The Warriors opened the scoring after four minutes when Rowe’s delicate kick found Coleman who powered through to score with the extras successfully added.
The Warriors extended their advantage before the break when a change of pace from Rowe saw her break through two tacklers to race clear from halfway to score between the sticks. Foubister added the extras to give Wigan a 13-0 lead at half time.
The points difference was widened 30 seconds after the restart when Ellise Derbyshire gained possession inside her own half before she accelerated away from the Demons defence to score between the sticks as Foubister successfully converted.
Two tries in two minutes from Wigan saw the points difference increase to 33-0 after Davies first crossed on the right edge before Derbyshire grounded her second on the opposite side with Rowe and Foubsiter adding the extras.
Jones broke through an attempted tackle to add a sixth try with two minutes remaining before firm defensive work from Miller and Derbyshire denied the Demons with the final attack of the game as the Warriors advanced to the Women’s Nines Final following a 40-0 victory.
Final: Wigan Warriors 21-0 Leeds Rhinos
After an evenly contested start to the Final, in which each side matched one another defensively, the Warriors opened the scoring just before half time when Hunter burst through a gap at pace to score on the left edge. The conversion was unsuccessful but the Wigan led 4-0 at the break.
The Warriors started the second half emphatically as Rowe’s short pass found Banks who burst through from 30m to score in the right corner 40 seconds after the restart.
Leeds almost made an immediate response when Amy Hardcastle looked to power over, however, the ball was knocked forwards in an attempt to ground under the pressure of Derbyshire and Rowe.
The Warriors turned defence into attack from the restart as Hunter broke through a tackle once more on the left side before she offloaded inside to Coleman who burst away to score. Despite Foubister’s kick sailing just wide, the Warriors led 12-0 on 13 minutes.
Fantastic defensive work from Jones denied Leeds a try in the right corner before a blistering break through the Rhinos defence saw Banks race away for her second of the match to widen the lead.
The Warriors capped of a fantastic showing in Hull with a fifth try in the final minute when Davies dived over on the right edge to crown Wigan as champions following a 21-0 win.