York Valkyrie’s Sinead Peach celebrates with Daisy Sanderson and Rhiannion Marshall after scoring her first try of the game versus Wigan Warriors in their Women’s Super League clash at York. Photo credit: York RLFC.
Following the Valkyrie’s streak of wins ending over the weekend with Wigan defeating them 12-4 in the Women’s Nines finals day, it was interesting to see how proceedings would go down between the two in the Women’s Super League. Unsurprisingly, York went back to winning ways with a 40-6 win over the Warriors.
York Valkyrie 40-6 Wigan Warriors
(HT 26 – 0) LNER Community Stadium, York
York tries: 7’ Hendry, 17’ Marshall, 24’ 38’ Owen, 28’ Peach, 43’ Stanley, 48’ Kershaw, 73’ Rihari | Goals: Stanley (4/7), Whitehead (0/1)
Wigan tries: 65’ Hunter | Goals: Cerys Jones (1/1)
Player of the match: Sinead Peach (York Valkyrie)
York Valkyrie: Tara Jane Stanley, Ellie Hendry, Tamzin Renouf, Lacey Owen, Liv Whitehead, Sade Rihari, Liv Gale, Grace Field, Sinead Peach, Aimee Staveley, Savannah Andrade, Liv Wood, Jas Bell. Interchange: Emma Kershaw, Rhiannion Marshall, Daisy Sanderson, Jess Sharp.
Coach: Lindsay Anfield
Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks, Kaitlin Hilton, Anna Davies, Eva Hunter, Cailey Miller, Molly Jones, Beth Hayes, Holly Speakman, Emma Dwyer, Lucy Johnson, Vicky Molyneux, Mary Coleman, Cerys Jones. Interchange: Beri Salihi, Jodie Morris, Olivia Harborow, Gabi Leigh.
Coach: Kris Ratcliffe
Coming into the game, York’s unbeaten streak – across all competitions – was ended by Wigan in the Women’s Nines semi finals, with the Warriors clinching a 12-4 win over the Valkyrie. Fullback Beri Salihi was key for Wigan in their Nines Finals campaign, scoring 2 tries on the day, though dropped to the bench for the Warriors. Cailey Miller, Olivia Harborow and Gabi Leigh were all added to the Wigan side since their previous outing in the Nines. Georgie Hetherington, Ash Hyde and Georgia Taylor made way for Daisy Sanderson, Ellie Hendry and Liv Whitehead. Tamzin Renouf moved to the centre, with Whitehead, Emma Kershaw and Hendry on the wing.
Wigan were attacking within the first few minutes of the game, taking the Valkyrie by surprise. Their short kicks were picked up on and ultimately registered ineffective against York. The home side drew first blood, Ellie Hendry on the wing got the first try of the game in the left corner just 7 minutes after Wigan were exposed on the outside. Tara Stanley unable to convert from the edge, York 4-0.
An error riddled 10 minutes ensued, Wigan’s kick from Molly Jones was intercepted by Sinead Peach on the line which allowed for York to press up the field. A handling error from Vicky Molyneux saw the ball in the Valkyrie’s possession in the Warriors 30. Rhiannion Marshall made the breakthrough in her first carry coming straight off the bench, crashing through the Wigan defence to put the ball under the sticks. Stanley was successful in conversion.
Lacey Owen followed up in the home side’s try scoring ways by fending off the Warriors to score in the right edge. Stanley’s conversion attempt went wide of the sticks to bring York to a 14 point lead.
York continued to press, reaching close range of the Warriors’ tryline with just 10 minutes left of the half. Attempts to hold the Valkyrie up were successful, Tamzin Renouf denied the try. It was Peach that crashed under the posts to break the tension, followed by the conversion from Stanley.
While Wigan’s Molly Jones created chances when breaking deep into the York half, her teammates were unable to make the most of the opportunity. The Valkyrie would soon come back into possession and undo her work. Owen was present in the corner once more, Sade Rihari setting her up by exploiting the lack of players on the edge for a try. A kick that curled in from Stanley saw the end of the first half with York leading 26-0.
Tara Stanley would get proceedings back underway with a try in the left corner after an offload from Renouf who’d carried the ball to the line. A side step deceiving the Wigan defenders to ensure the 4 points. She converted her own try.
Jones was once again vital for the Warriors, continuing to break through the centre, but was not supported in Wigan’s bid for their first try of the game. The visitors came under pressure when Owen was handed the ball from Peach, breaking through the defence only to fall short of the line. The try would eventually come in the corner, Stanley chucking the ball to the unmarked winger Kershaw for the 5th of the game. The conversion fell short, York led by 36.
Stanley broke into the Wigan half from her own 30, though her set up wasn’t picked up on as a knock on from Renouf saw the Warriors rewarded with a scrum. The Valkyrie were shaken up in the 62nd when Stanley was taken off with an injury, moving Liv Whitehead to full back. The substitution left York in a tricky situation as they had used up 7 changes, hoping to use Grace Field and Rhiannion Marshall at the end in the centre. It was Field who was eventually subbed on with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Wigan held the Valkyrie up on the tryline, with a set completed without a try for York. Eva Hunter sped past a tired York side to get the first try of the game for the Warriors. A successful conversion from Molly Jones. A consolation try in the grand scheme of things given the Valkyrie lead of 30.
It was Sade Rihari in the corner for York after an offload from Kershaw who’d add the final points of the game, with the Warriors unable to keep her up. Liv Whitehead took over kicking duties, unsuccessful with the ball landing short of the sticks.
Last minute efforts from Jas Bell and Savannah Andrade saw the ball held up on the line with no more points to add. There’d be not much action to follow, with the whistle blowing leaving the scoreline 40-6.
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