York Valkyrie Squad 2024

[RBKnight]

1. Tara Jane Stanley, proudly sponsored by Purple Chilli Events Catering Specialists

2. Eboni Partington, proudly sponsored by Kings Carpets and Flooring

3. Tamzin Renouf, proudly sponsored by York Coffee Emporium

4. Emma Kershaw, proudly sponsored by Bootham Tavern

5. Georgie Hetherington, proudly sponsored by Crusading For Veterans

6. Sade Rihari, proudly sponsored by Pro-Development UK

7. Liv Gale, proudly sponsored by The Tex Services Group Ltd

8. Liv Wood, proudly sponsored by Visiting North Yorkshire

9. Sinead Peach, proudly sponsored by One Stop Scaffolding

10. Jas Bell, proudly sponsored by Aysgarth Rooms

11. Lacey Owen, proudly sponsored by Copycars Used Cars

12. Savannah Andrade, proudly sponsored by Yorkshire Profiles

13. Rhiannion Marshall, proudly sponsored by YorWealth

14. Georgia Taylor, proudly sponsored by Simpson York Ltd

15. Kelsey Gentles, proudly sponsored by Prosper Accountancy

16. Daisy Sanderson, proudly sponsored by JP Services

17. Elisa Akpa, proudly sponsored by PMJ Masonry Ltd

18. Jess Sharp, proudly sponsored by JCT 600

19. Bettie Lambert, proudly sponsored by The White Family

20. Alex Stimpson

21. Lucy Eastwood, proudly sponsored by The Harrogate York Knights

22. Eva Izumi, proudly sponsored by ACM Motor Services

23. Manuqalo Komaitai

24. Ellie Hendry

25. Ash Hyde

26. Carrie Roberts, proudly sponsored by York's Chocolate Story

[RBKnight]

Additions for this season (apart from previously flagged-up move of Eboni Partington from Saints to York) are Half-Back Lucy Eastwood from Warrington (another ex-Cas player) and Centre Manuqalo Komaitai from Army RL (apparently scouted and recommended by Carrie Roberts).

Kelsey Gentles returns after maternity leave, and Prop Alex Stimpson after two years out with (I think) a knee reconstruction.

[unapologetic pedant]

13 minutes ago, RBKnight said:

6. Sade Rihari, proudly sponsored by Pro-Development UK

Still no Greggs sponsorship?

 

15 minutes ago, RBKnight said:

26. Carrie Roberts, proudly sponsored by York's Chocolate Story

Anybody still make the big boxes of Terry's 1767 Chocolate Assortment?

Big-up to all the sponsors.

[RBKnight]

7 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Still no Greggs sponsorship?

 

Anybody still make the big boxes of Terry's 1767 Chocolate Assortment?

Big-up to all the sponsors.

 Sade's been very quiet at York on the pie front, probably wants to ensure she doesn't want to rule herself and Ata out of any freebies club sponsors might be offering!

Terrys is a bit of a dirty word in York after Kraft took over the brand and closed down the York factory - but there were York RLFC chocolate oranges in the club shop this Xmas.....

[WRLFan]

There’s a few of the U19 girls I thought might be in the 1st team squad this year 

A couple of promising girls left Leeds academy to join York hoping for 1st team chances
Time will tell if they made the right decision 

 

[unapologetic pedant]

23 hours ago, WRLFan said:

A couple of promising girls left Leeds academy to join York hoping for 1st team chances
Time will tell if they made the right decision 

Would have thought they'd be better off somewhere else, if they're looking for game-time in first-grade. More likely they want to be well looked after.

A young Frankie Townend left pre-exodus Cas for Huddersfield and has been allowed to pretty much run the show.

[unapologetic pedant]

On the subject of Huddersfield, there's a player called Ana Da Silva listed in their squad.

Any requests? - "Fairytale in the Supermarket"

[The Blues Ox]

20 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Would have thought they'd be better off somewhere else, if they're looking for game-time in first-grade. More likely they want to be well looked after.

A young Frankie Townend left pre-exodus Cas for Huddersfield and has been allowed to pretty much run the show.

Or maybe they could have looked at some DR deals. It does seem theres been some big shake ups in teams this season and everyone is just waiting to see how it all pans out. Teams you thought might get on an even footing this season like Cas and Bradford are having to bring players in from League 2 or merit teams just to fill their squads up and looks like both are heading in the wrong direction rather than realistically challenging to get back towards SL.

[unapologetic pedant]

21 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

On the subject of Huddersfield, there's a player called Ana Da Silva listed in their squad.

Any requests? - "Fairytale in the Supermarket"

Just been reminded that Ana Da Silva is mentioned in the under-18s thread.

Surprised at myself that the name didn't ring a Raincoats bell before.

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, The Blues Ox said:

Or maybe they could have looked at some DR deals. It does seem theres been some big shake ups in teams this season and everyone is just waiting to see how it all pans out. Teams you thought might get on an even footing this season like Cas and Bradford are having to bring players in from League 2 or merit teams just to fill their squads up and looks like both are heading in the wrong direction rather than realistically challenging to get back towards SL.

Formal DR and feeder-club agreements are the way to go. All a bit ad hoc and desultory at the moment.

[RBKnight]

On 11/03/2024 at 14:47, WRLFan said:

There’s a few of the U19 girls I thought might be in the 1st team squad this year 

A couple of promising girls left Leeds academy to join York hoping for 1st team chances
Time will tell if they made the right decision 

 

Not sure why Leeds academy players would think that it would be easier to break into the Valkyrie team than the Rhinos .......

[BroncoFan]

Keira Gittens is one from Rhinos to Valkyrie and another is a prop/second rower can’t remember her name.

[WRLFan]

12 hours ago, BroncoFan said:

Keira Gittens is one from Rhinos to Valkyrie and another is a prop/second rower can’t remember her name.

Lauren Exley. Good player

Played at East Leeds together for many years with a few of the other U19s at York

 

[BroncoFan]

Yep watched Lauren Exley play for Sheffield v Fev and I was impressed, also I thought the other Valkyrie youngster Izzy Brennan was very good too.

I see Abbie Millward has joined York too, excellent backup hooker option if Peach gets injured.

[RBKnight]

44 minutes ago, BroncoFan said:

Yep watched Lauren Exley play for Sheffield v Fev and I was impressed, also I thought the other Valkyrie youngster Izzy Brennan was very good too.

I see Abbie Millward has joined York too, excellent backup hooker option if Peach gets injured.

Valkyrie U19's got off to a good start yesterday evening, scoring five tries to one in a 26-4 victory away to Huddersfield (Try-scorers Izzy Swallow (2) Evie Sexton, Abi Millward & Lauren Exley) 

[BroncoFan]

There was a video on instagram the other day of Evie Sexton scoring 5 tries for Hull FC, looks a great player for the future.

[The Blues Ox]

2 hours ago, RBKnight said:

Valkyrie U19's got off to a good start yesterday evening, scoring five tries to one in a 26-4 victory away to Huddersfield (Try-scorers Izzy Swallow (2) Evie Sexton, Abi Millward & Lauren Exley) 

Went to watch this game last night, I thought the York number 23, a tall rangy Black lass not sure of her name, was outstanding and Huddersfield will have been pleased as she had to leave the game injured a couple of times as she constantly punched holes in the Hudds defense and put in some big hits in defense. I think the York number 11 had a strong game as well, when you see someone run the ball in and you say "Thats how you are supposed to run the ball in", thats her. Both half backs were lively but Huddersfield were really poor for a team that had a lot of experience in it and York really didn't need to do much to beat them as basic errors just invited pressure on to them. For Huddersfield their centre Molly Iceton was their best player by some distance and caused York problems but just didn't see enough of the ball. A good night for a couple of the York lasses who got released by Huddersfield before the start of the season and ended up at York and both outplayed their opposite numbers as well. Last night and the lack of improvement from Huddersfield has to beg questions of their recruitment policy at this level.

[RBKnight]

24 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

A good night for a couple of the York lasses who got released by Huddersfield before the start of the season and ended up at York and both outplayed their opposite numbers as well. Last night and the lack of improvement from Huddersfield has to beg questions of their recruitment policy at this level.

Can't really comment on Hudd's recruitment/retention, but there might be a bit of a coaching gap here (as well as confidence in a team that's winning the game!)

 

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, The Blues Ox said:

 defense  defense

You're spending too much time on the internet.

[unapologetic pedant]

6 hours ago, RBKnight said:

Valkyrie U19's got off to a good start yesterday evening, scoring five tries to one in a 26-4 victory away to Huddersfield (Try-scorers Izzy Swallow (2) Evie Sexton, Abi Millward & Lauren Exley) 

One of your under-19s is called Hope Throw.

Assuming no typo, that's even better than American Soccerball goalie Hope Solo.

[Stirlin]

1 hour ago, unapologetic pedant said:

One of your under-19s is called Hope Throw.

Assuming no typo, that's even better than American Soccerball goalie Hope Solo.

Yep.

 

[RigbyLuger]

5 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Last night and the lack of improvement from Huddersfield has to beg questions of their recruitment policy at this level.

This the Huddersfield who the media didn't question about "going professional"? (Not knocking the players, more the club and their flimsy statements.)

[RBKnight]

58 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

This the Huddersfield who the media didn't question about "going professional"? (Not knocking the players, more the club and their flimsy statements.)

Probably unfair - I expect Giants' WSL to make progress this year (and to be better than Warrington, Fev and Barrow)

[The Blues Ox]

Yeah I think no doubt Huddersfield have made some on field improvements with the signings they have made in the off season. I still think the treatment of players still leaves a lot to be desired. They had meetings with all their players about pre-season, standard stuff, telling them areas they need to be working on and gave them fitness plans etc for the upcoming season. Just over a week later they got a group of them in (At least a couple of the group played for York last night) and told them they were no longer required. Its really no way to treat young lasses or anyone for that matter. I personally feel they need to up their game massively off the field.

[BroncoFan]

19 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Went to watch this game last night, I thought the York number 23, a tall rangy Black lass not sure of her name, was outstanding and Huddersfield will have been pleased as she had to leave the game injured a couple of times as she constantly punched holes in the Hudds defense and put in some big hits in defense. I think the York number 11 had a strong game as well, when you see someone run the ball in and you say "Thats how you are supposed to run the ball in", thats her. Both half backs were lively but Huddersfield were really poor for a team that had a lot of experience in it and York really didn't need to do much to beat them as basic errors just invited pressure on to them. For Huddersfield their centre Molly Iceton was their best player by some distance and caused York problems but just didn't see enough of the ball. A good night for a couple of the York lasses who got released by Huddersfield before the start of the season and ended up at York and both outplayed their opposite numbers as well. Last night and the lack of improvement from Huddersfield has to beg questions of their recruitment policy at this level.

I would assume that would be TLeesha Frederick Maynard, prop who I’m keen to see her progress.