Women beat York in opener
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women beat York Valkyrie in the opening round of 2025 Betfred Women’s Super League.
- The Warriors scored seven tries in an impressive victory at The Brick Community Stadium.
- FT | Wigan Warriors 40-6 York Valkyrie.
Wigan Warriors Women recorded an impressive betfred women’s super league opening round victory over york valkyrie.
An emphatic first half performance from the Warriors saw Molly Jones, Eva Hunter, Tiana Power, Grace Banks and Emily Veivers cross for tries against the reigning champions.
Wigan added further tries through Shaniah Power and Banks in the second half to defeat York and start the Women’s Super League season with two points.
Report
After an evenly contested start, the Warriors opened the scoring when a clever offload from Georgia Wilson to Shaniah Power then saw Ellise Derbyshire burst through the attempted tackle. After accelerating deep inside the York half, the winger played an inside pass to Jones who scored beneath the sticks with Rowe adding the extras.
The Warriors extended their lead three minutes later when a fine attacking move saw Jenna Foubister break the line to send Hunter over on the left side. Rowe’s conversion attempt rebounded off the post to keep the score at 10-0.
The Valkyrie struggled to make attacking metres as the Warriors quickly gained a repeat set deep inside the York half following a knock on mid-way through the half. T. Power gained possession 20m before a weaving run saw the winger beat four players to score with Rowe kicking the additional points.
Wigan crossed for a fourth try soon after when a pass out the back from Foubister to Banks saw the full-bank fend off the attempted tackle before running in from 25 to score. Rowe added the extras to widen the score to 22-0.
Following a lengthy injury stoppage, which saw York’s Tamzin Renouf stretchered off, the Warriors added a fifth try in the final minute when Foubister’s kick bounced back into the hands of Veivers, who powered over from close range. Rowe added the extras to give the Warriors a 28-0 lead at the break.
Wigan almost added a sixth try straight after the restart when Hunter went to ground her second, however, York just about did enough to force the ball to come loose in the tackle.
The Warriors extended their lead five minutes later when Coleman won the ball back in a one-on-one tackle to send S. Power crashing over between the sticks with Rowe adding the extras from close range. After a check with the video referee, the try was confirmed.
After firm defensive work kept the Valkyrie out, the Warriors extended their lead when alert play saw the ball kept alive before Banks powered through two tacklers to score her second. Rowe made no mistake in adding her sixth conversion from the tee with nine minutes remaining.
York scored a consolation try in the closing stages when Rhiannion Marshall broke through before sending Savannah Andrade over. Ellie Williamson added the extras as the final score finished 40-6.
Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks, Tiana Power, Georgia Wilson, Molly Jones, Ellise Derbyshire, Jenna Foubister, Isabel Rowe, Mary Coleman, Remi Wilton, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Eva Hunter, Shaniah Power, Megan Williams.
Interchange: Carys Marsh, Cerys Jones, Emily Veivers, Mia-Jayne Atherton.
18th Player: Holly Speakman
Tries: M. Jones (14′), Hunter (17′), T. Power (21′), Banks (25′, 70′), Veivers (39′), S. Power (50′).
Goals: Rowe (6/7).
York Valkyrie: Georgie Dagger, Eboni Partington, Tamzin Renouf, Jasmine Rampton, Emma Kershaw, Sade Rihari, Ellie Willliamson, Olivia Wood, Sinead Peach, Zoe Hornby, Savannah Andrade, Lisa Parker, Jas Bell.
Interchange: Rhiannion Marshall, Alex Stimpson, Tara Moxon, Isabelle Brennan.
18th Player: Jessica Sharp.
Tries: Andrade (77′).
Goals: Williamson (1/1).
Referee: Freddie Lincoln
