YORK VALKYRIE 10 ST HELENS 14
JACOB KILBRIDE, LNER Community Stadium, Sunday

ST HELENS kept themselves in play-off contention after a gutsy victory over top four foes York.

A 28-18 defeat to the Valkyrie nine days prior had left their opponents with one foot in the play-off semi-final, but the sides now remain locked on 12 points ahead of the final matches of the Super Fours next weekend.

Adaoha Akwiwu put York in front after a dominant start, only for Katie Mottershead to reply through a rare Saints counter-attack.

Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth stretched St Helens further in front and though Izzy Brennan gave the Valkyrie some late hope, the faultless goal-kicking from Faye Gaskin ultimately proved the difference.

Whilst York may hold the points difference advantage at present in the race for the semi-finals, a win for Saints over Leeds in the final round would mean that the Valkyrie would have to beat reigning champions Wigan to progress.

York had look strong favourites for that spot, having dominated the early territory battle, but had to wait until the midpoint of the first half to eventually claim the opener.

Having seen Sinead Peach go close from a dummy-half scoot before Saints scrambled to deny Amelie Lenham from a deep break, the hosts found their breakthrough.

Ellie Williamson’s neat grubber won a drop-out to build yet more pressure and the Valkyrie stacked the left flank as Monique Donovan put Akwiwu over the whitewash.

From the left touchline, Tara Jane Stanley could not add the extras.

But for all the control York had demonstrated, they suddenly found themselves behind as St Helens profited from their first venture into their opposition’s 20.

Zoe Harris almost ghosted through and Alyx Bidge was stopped short on the crash ball but there was no denying Mottershead’s acting-half dart from close range. Faye Gaskin added the extras for a 6-4 lead.

Saints could easily have extended their advantage at the back end of the first 40 minutes, though York showcased some dogged tryline defence amid three straight sets deep in their own territory.

The late first-half rain got heavier and ever more persistent as the contest restarted, with errors aplenty from both sides and strong handling skills at a premium.

Against the high-kicking of Gaskin in such conditions is another challenge in and of itself. A bomb from the veteran scrum-half went straight through the hands of Emma Kershaw, setting the platform for Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth to twist over.

A second Gaskin goal stretched the visitors into a two-score lead.

Donovan was the next to fall victim to a dropped ball from a towering Gaskin kick, though Hoyle-Holdsworth this time failed to crash onto Mottershead’s short ball.

Saints appeared in cruise control when Gaskin knocked over a penalty goal after York were pinged for offside but the Valkyrie were handed a lifeline as the contest reached its climax, with Paige Travis sent to the sin bin for a hair pull on Stanley.

The numerical advantage was immediately capitalised on when Izzy Brennan strode back against the grain to go under the sticks, but though Stanley added the conversion, the fightback proved too little too late.

GAMESTAR: Faye Gaskin dominated proceedings through a masterful display with the boot, made especially tough for the York backline in the wet and windy weather.

GAMEBREAKER: When Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth wrestled past York’s tryline defence from close range, Saints moved into a two-score lead, a sizeable advantage in this nip-and-tuck affair.

MATCHFACTS

VALKYRIE
23 Monique Donovan
3 Emma Kershaw
21 Petra Woods
25 Adaoha Akwiwu
  2 Eboni Partington
1 Tara Jane Stanley
  7 Ellie Williamson
  8 Liv Wood
  9 Sinead Peach
15 Megan Pakulis
28 Amelie Lenham
12 Savannah Andrade
24 Lisa Parker
Subs (all used)
10 Jas Bell
14 Izzy Bibby
16 Agnes Wood
18 Izzy Brennan

Tries: Akwiwu (21), Brennan (74)
Goals: Stanley 1/2

SAINTS
31 Anna Dennis
  2 Phoebe Hook
4 Amy Hardcastle
  3 Rachael Woosey
25 Dani McGifford
  6 Zoe Harris
7 Faye Gaskin
11 Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth
17 Caitlin Casey
16 Erin McDonald
14 Paige Travis
12 Emily Rudge
13 Jodie Cunningham
Subs
  8 Vicky Whitfield
  9 Katie Mottershead
20 Alyx Bridge
  1 Rebecca Rotherham

Tries: Mottershead (29), Hoyle-Holdsworth (53)
Goals: Gaskin 3/3
Sin bin: Travis (73) – hair pull

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6; 4-12, 4-14, 10-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Valkyrie: Liv Wood; Saints: Faye Gaskin

Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 4-6
Referee: Tyler Topping-Higson