LEEDS RHINOS 14 WIGAN WARRIORS 44
LORRAINE MARSDEN, LNER Community Stadium, York, Saturday
IF 2024 was the year that Wigan proved themselves real competitors in Women’s Rugby League, then 2025 could be the year they class themselves as genuine challengers for silverware.
Having not conceded a single point in their previous three Challenge Cup games this season, Denis Betts’ side put in another strong defensive performance to limit Leeds to few chances and confirm their first final appearance next month.
But as impressive as the defence was, Wigan also showed many moments of attacking flair as they ran in nine tries in a quite magnificent performance.
The Warriors welcomed back Isabel Rowe for her first game of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, but there was still no return for the experienced Vicky Molyneux.
Leeds too were without some of their experienced stars with Caitlin Beevers still sidelined and new signing Lacey Owen absent once again. Evie Cousins also missed out through injury, handing Tally Bryer a start on the wing.
England international forward Bella Sykes returned to the side but didn’t see out the game after a head knock, one of several injuries which compounded their defeat.
Both sides made handling errors in the opening minutes, but it was a different sort of error that led to the opening try. After Bryer did well to take Rowe’s high kick, Wigan were then penalised for holding down. When Mel Howard didn’t find touch, Wigan took full advantage and worked the ball out to the right, through the hands of Shaniah Power, for Anna Davies to find space to open the scoring.
Minutes later Leeds were the ones penalised for a ball steal and Wigan didn’t copy the Rhinos’ earlier mistake to earn more territory deep in Leeds’ half, with Georgia Wilson feeding the ball through to Davies, who eased over for her second.
Jenna Foubister missed both conversions from out wide, with the first coming off the bar, but she was on target a quarter of an hour later when Wigan got their third. By then Leeds had seen their best effort of the half halted just short by strong Wigan defence, and Davies had failed to take Rowe’s kick in goal to complete a 20 minute hat-trick. But there was no mistake when Wilson cut inside, break free of several would-be Leeds tacklers to dive over.
By now Wigan were in full control, and their dominance continued with three further first-half tries. Firstly through a great weaving run from Grace Banks after Foubister charged down a kick from Leeds, before Megan Williams bundled her way over, with video referee Liam Rush confirming the score.
Then in the final moments of the half, Papua New Guinea international Emily Veivers ran onto a flat pass on halfway and didn’t stop to touch down under the posts. Foubister missed her third conversion of the half, but Wigan went in 30-0 up, and Leeds were shellshocked.
Leeds’ cause wasn’t helped when they lost Ruby Walker to injury in the opening minutes of the second half, and as hard as they tried they couldn’t find the breakthrough that might have given them some hope of fighting their way back into the contest. Instead it was Wigan who crossed first after the restart through Molly Jones.
After Banks raced away for her second, Leeds finally go on the scoreboard through Jenna Greening, but Mel Howard’s conversion attempt hit the crossbar.
Bryer crossed again for the Rhinos just minutes later. Howard was off target again and Leeds were running out of time.
Despite tiring legs and cramp setting in for many, Wigan battled on and Rowe marked her comeback with a try that ultimately sealed a memorable win for the Warriors.
Howard raced way as the hooter sounded to score late for Leeds, with Keara Bennett adding the conversion. But it was Wigan’s day as the celebrations started.
GAMESTAR: Wigan’s forwards set the platform for the memorable win, with Shaniah Power particularly impressive.
GAMEBREAKER: Molly Jones’ try for Wigan after a spell of Leeds possession in the early stages of the second half left the Rhinos with too much to do.
MATCHFACTS
RHINOS
2 Ebony Stead
24 Tally Bryer
17 Jenna Greening
22 Connie Boyd
18 Liv Whitehead
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
8 Bella Sykes
9 Keara Bennett
10 Izzy Northrop
11 Shannon Lacey
12 Lucy Murray
13 Bethan Dainton
Subs (all used)
14 Ruby Bruce
15 Ella Donnelly
16 Kaiya Glynn
21 Grace Short
18th woman (not used)
23 Frankie Blakey
Also in 21-woman squad
5 Sophie Nuttall
19 Grace Field
20 Elle Frain
Tries: Greening (58), Bryer (63), Howard (80)
Goals: Howard 0/2, Bennett 1/1
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 Holly Speakman
11 Eva Hunter
10 Shaniah Power
13 Megan Williams
Subs (all used)
9 Carys Marsh
14 Rachel Thompson
16 Rease Casey
17 Emily Veivers
18th woman (not used)
26 Tiana Power
Also in 21-woman squad
15 Cerys Jones
23 Kaitlin Hilton
24 Ruby Hunter
Tries: Davies (5, 11), Wilson (24), Banks (29, 56), Williams (34), Veivers (39), M Jones (49), Rowe (69)
Goals: Foubister 4/9
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-8, 0-14, 0-20, 0-26, 0-30; 0-34, 0-38, 4-38, 8-38, 8-44, 14-44
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Rhinos: Tally Bryer; Warriors: Shaniah Power
Penalty count: 2-4
Half-time: 0-30
Referee: Tara Jones