WIGAN WARRIORS 6 YORK VALKYRIE 8
DAVID KUZIO, The Brick Community Stadium, Sunday

THAT OLD adage of defence wins matches rang true in the Women’s Grand Final as York Valkyrie withstood almost everything Wigan threw at them to make it three title wins in the past four years.

The Warriors, chasing a second successive treble-winning season, again came unstuck against underdogs York, who are the only team to have beaten them across the last two campaigns, doing so thrice.

Wigan were shown two yellow cards in a fiercely contested opening half, with the Valkyrie taking an 8-6 lead in at the break thanks to a try from captain Sinead Peach and two Ellie Williamson goals.

Mia Atherton crossed for the Warriors, converted by Isabel Rowe, before being sin-binned for a tackle on Jas Bell, with reigning Woman of Steel Eva Hunter then also carded as half-time approached.

In the second half, the Warriors saw most of the ball, but they could not find a way past some strong, desperate goal line defending from Leon Pryce’s women.

An early Hunter knock-on gave York possession deep in Wigan’s half, but a strong defensive effort – including two massive hits from Lucie Sams – kept the Valkyrie at bay.

York, despite being without star fullback Tara Jane Stanley, were the more settled team in the early stages.

Peach made a break that got the Yorkshire side close, before darting from dummy half under the posts a couple of plays later to open the scoring, Williamson adding the extras.

A kick out on the full from Rowe put Wigan back under pressure, and it looked like York would extend their lead as they kept the ball alive on the last, but a great tackle from Georgia Wilson on Lisa Parker saved the day.

Atherton was introduced in the 18th minute and within seconds she was on the scoresheet.

A great break from Jenna Foubister opened up the York defence, the halfback turning the ball back inside for Atherton to go over with her first touch of the ball. Rowe converted to level it up at 6-6. 

Wigan looked more comfortable after scoring and almost made it back-to-back tries. Great hands from Rowe, Banks and Wilson sent Anna Davies racing down the wing, but she was denied by an outstanding tackle from Valkyrie youngster Amelie Lenham, as she was forced into touch before grounding the ball. 

The Warriors were reduced to twelve as Atherton was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle on Jas Bell, with Williamson scoring the resultant penalty to put York 8-6 in front.

Wigan showed little ill-effects of their numerical disadvantage. A teasing Foubister kick forced a dropout, from which they should have taken the lead as Banks and Molly Jones combined down the left, but the final pass was in front of Ellise Derbyshire and it sailed into touch. 

Lenham almost grabbed York’s second try as she barged for the line, but Sams popped up with a great try-saving tackle.

Seconds after Atherton returned from the bin, Wigan lost another player as Hunter was shown a yellow card for leading with the elbow on Williamson, but they managed to not concede any more points as they trailed by two at the break. 

Wigan started the second half just like the first with a knock-on – this time from Derbyshire – in their own half as Williamson continued to terrorise the Warriors.

Olivia Wood was held up over the line on the last as Wigan escaped unscathed, Hunter then returning to the action at the end of a period that had seen her side concede just two points across the periods that they were down to twelve.

Wilson went agonizingly close to scoring as Wigan looked to turn up the pressure, with Rowe  getting her hands on the ball more and starting to dictate play.

Her kick to the corner forced a York knock-on and she had a hand in Banks going close as the fullback was held up over the line.

York almost caught Wigan napping as Eboni Partington collected a high ball and made a break, but she was hauled down by Wilson.

Wigan were throwing everything at York and Bethan Dainton went close with a break up the middle, but though a ball steal then gave the Warriors a penalty, neither Banks nor Hunter could find a way across.

A clever Foubister kick instead forced a drop-out, from which she almost managed to go over, while Cerys Jones was also stopped inches from the line.

York were struggling to get out of their own half, but they were defending for their lives. 

It looked like Wigan would score in the final minutes with Banks and Wilson again combining, but Lenham was there again to tackle Davies and force her into touch.

Wigan continued to press but the final pass would not stick and York were crowned champions.  

GAMESTAR: In what was an amazing defensive effort from York, Amelie Lenham produced two try-saving tackles on Anna Davies that helped them to victory. 

GAMEBREAKER: Amelie Lenham’s try saving tackle on Anna Davies in the 71st minute proved to be a matchwinner.

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 Coleman
19 Remi Wilton
20 Lucie Sams
11 Eva Hunter
12 Cerys Jones
13 Megan Williams
Subs (all used)
9 Carys Marsh
10 Mia Atherton
15 Bethan Dainton
16 Beri Salihi

Tries: Atherton (19)
Goals: Rowe 1/1
Sin bin: Atherton (28) – dangerous tackle, Hunter (38) – leading with elbow

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

Tries: Peach (9)
Goals: Williamson 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-8; 6-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Warriors: Lucie Sams; Valkyrie: Amelie Lenham

Penalty count: 3-6
Half-time: 6-8
Referee: Aaron Moore