WIGAN WARRIORS 44 YORK VALKYRIE 0
DAVID KUZIO, Edge Hall Road, Community Stadium, Saturday
WIGAN WARRIORS continued their dominance in 2026 with a ninth successive victory to move a step closer to retaining their League Leaders and Grand Final titles.
Wigan twice opened York up down the right in the opening minutes with Remi Wilton and Grace Banks cutting through.
But both chances came to nothing, and another one went begging as Cerys Jones was unable to collect a short pass from Isabel Rowe.
Wigan, dominating in all aspects of the game, took the lead in the seventh minute when a sublime pass from Rowe put Megan Williams through a massive gap, the loose forward throwing a dummy before strolling in under the posts. Rowe scored the first of eight conversions.
The Warriors barely allowed York to get into the game, looking both dangerous in attack and restricting the Valkyrie from kicking from deep when they had the ball.
The home side soon extended their lead thanks to some individual skill from Jenna Foubister.
Having received the ball on the last, the halfback did not have many options, so she opted to step inside and go herself to score under the posts.
A handling error then gave York their first attacking set in the opposition half, but despite winning a repeat set, they could not complete the set and Wigan survived.
Wigan, who lost Lucie Sams to what looked like a serious arm injury, crossed for their third try in the 21st minute with Molly Jones collecting a cut-out pass from Foubister to score. Rowe’s conversion made it 18-0.
York, in a rebuild under Leon Pryce this season, struggled to get into the game, with Ellie Williamson kicking out on the full as they looked out of sorts in both attack and defence.
They did have their best spell on the half-hour with both Monique Donovan and Lisa Parker going close, but Wigan’s defensive line – led by the impressive Mia Atherton – held firm.
Instead, Wigan ended the half with two more tries.
First, a cute kick from Rowe pierced the York defence and Kelsey Gentles was on hand to touch down against her former club, before Jones raced 60 metres unopposed to score a great solo try, extending the hosts’ lead to 28-0 at the break.
Despite being well on their way to victory, Wigan’s standards did not slip, with Georgia Wilson and Anna Davies combining in defence to stop a dangerous attack minutes into the second half.
York were doing their best to get into the game with Tara Jane Stanley becoming increasingly influential, but they could still find no way through.
Wigan became somewhat sloppy with ball in hand, but a penalty for dissent saw them launch their first real attack of the second half on 50 minutes, which soon produced more points.
Atherton set the platform with a strong run, before the ball went left and Jones sent Ellise Derbyshire over in the corner to make it 32-0.
And the game was well and truly over as the Warriors made it back-to-back tries with Eva Hunter breaking through, before standing Donovan up and easing past her to score. Rowe added the extras.
The reigning Woman of Steel was then gifted her second try nine minutes later after Emma Kershaw had dropped a Foubister kick.
Though no further points were scored in the final 16 minutes it did not detract from a dominant performance by Denis Betts’ side.
GAMESTAR: Mia Atherton was outstanding in her extended spell as she set the platform for Wigan to play expansive rugby, while she was strong in defence as well.
GAMEBREAKER: This game was never really a contest, but Ellise Derbyshire’s try 10 minutes after half time ensured York were never getting back into the game.
MATCHFACTS
WARRIORS
1 Grace Banks
2 Anna Davies
3 Georgia Wilson
4 Molly Jones
5 Ellise Derbyshire
6 Jenna Foubister
7 Isabel Rowe
8 Mary Colema
19 Remi Wilto
20 Lucie Sam
11 Eva Hunte
12 Cerys Jone
13 Megan William
Subs (all used)
9 Carys Marsh
10 Mia Atherton
15 Bethan Dainton
17 Kelsey Gentles
18th Player (not used)
16 Beri SalihI
Tries: Williams (7), Foubister (11), Jones (21, 39), Gentles (34), Derbyshire (50), Hunter (53, 64)
Goals: Rowe 6/8
VALKYRIE
23 Monique Donovan
3 Emma Kershaw
28 Amelie Lenham
21 Petra Woods
2 Eboni Partington
1 Tara Jane Stanley
7 Ellie Williamson
8 Olivia Wood
14 Isabel Bibby
15 Megan Pakulis
11 Tamzin Renouf
12 Savannah Andrade
18 Isabelle Brennan
Subs (all used)
9 Sinead Peach
10 Jas Bell
16 Agnes Wood
24 Lisa Parker
18th Player (not used)
19 Brooke Henderson
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 28-0; 32-0, 38-0, 44-0,
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Warriors: Mia Atherton; Valkyrie: Tara Jane Stanley
Penalty count: 4-5
Half-time: 28-0
Referee: Sam Jenkinson