Women secure win at Leeds
- Match Report as Wigan Warriors recorded an impressive victory over Leeds Rhinos.
- Molly Jones scored three of eight Wigan tries at AMT Headingley Stadium.
- FT | Leeds Rhinos 12-34 Wigan Warriors.
Wigan Warriors extended their winning start to the Betfred Women’s Super League season with an emphatic 34-12 win over Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium.
The Warriors scored four tries in the opening 25 minutes through Molly Jones (x2), Ellise Derbyshire and Anna Davies before Remi Wilton, Eva Hunter and Grace Banks crossed in the second half.
Despite Leeds tries in either half through Lucy Murray and Mel Howard, Jones completed her hat-trick as the Warriors recorded their first ever win at AMT Headingley Stadium whilst continuing their winning start to the season.
Report
The Warriors applied pressure from the off as George Wilson was held up on the right side before a switch of play in the next tackle saw Jones collect a bouncing ball to power over and open the scoring after seven minutes.
The lead was soon extended when Remi Wilton and Holly Speakman combined on halfway to take the Warriors deep inside the Rhinos half, and after forcing a handling error, quick passing from Jenna Foubister and Grace Banks released Derbyshire away to score in the left corner.
A Leeds error 15m from their own try line presented the Warriors with an attacking set in dangerous territory. A move straight out the scrum found Jones on the left side, who broke the tackle to ground her second of the match. Despite an unsuccessful kick, Wigan led 12-0 after 22 minutes.
Denis Betts’ side added a fourth try less than five minutes later when a clever move from Shaniah Power on the short side allowed Wilson to offload to Davies, who touched down in the corner. The touchline conversion was off target, keeping the score at 16-0.
Despite keeping Leeds out on multiple occasions, which included an excellent recovery tackle on Mel Howard, the home side’s pressure paid off when Lucy Murray crashed over on the far side. Howard added the kick four minutes before the break, as the score remained 16-6 on the hooter.
The Warriors restarted strongly and their efforts were rewarded when Jones completed her hat-trick on 47 minutes. After Marsh initially offloaded on the last tackle, Hunter kept the ball alive to send the centre over on the left side.
Wilton’s reappearance from the interchange bench brought a sixth Wigan try when she powered through the attempted to ground next to the sticks with Rowe adding the extras. Four minutes later the Warriors crossed once more when Hunter accelerated clear on the left side to make the score 30-6.
Further pressure to the Rhinos defence resulted in an eighth Warriors try when excellent work from Jones almost resulted in her fourth try, before play was switched to the opposite side where Banks crashed through the Leeds tacklers to score. The touchline kick rebounded off the post as the score remained 34-6.
The home side added a consolation score in the final 10 minutes when Howard crashed over from close range before adding the extras, however, an emphatic performance brought first ever win at AMT Headingley Stadium.
Gallery:
Leeds Rhinos: Evie Cousins, Olivia Whitehead, Sophie Nuttall, Jenna Greening, Tally Bryer, Mel Howard, Ruby Walker, Ella Donnelly, Keara Bennett, Izzy Northrop, Lucy Murray, Shannon Brown, Bethan Dainton.
Interchange: Ruby Bruce, Kaiya Glynn, Elle Fran, Grace Short.
18th Player: Lily Thompson.
Tries: Murray (35′), Howard (71′).
Goals: Howard (2/2)
Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks, Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Molly Jones, Ellise Derbyshire, Jenna Foubister, Isabel Rowe, Mary Coleman, Remi Wilton, Holly Speakman, Eva Hunter, Shaniah Power, Megan Williams.
Interchange: Carys Marsh, Victoria Molyneux, Rachel Thompson, Emily Veivers.
18th Player: Tiana Power.
Tries: Jones (7′, 21′, 47′), Derbyshire (10′), Davies (25′), Wilton (55′), Hunter (61′), Banks (67′).
Goals: Rowe (1/8).
