WIGAN WARRIORS 70 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 10
STEPHEN IBBETSON, Edge Hall Road Community Stadium, Saturday

WIGAN completed the full set of seven wins from seven to head into the second phase of the season in pole position for the League Leaders’ Shield.

But this victory was marred by an injury to their star fullback Grace Banks, who was stretchered off early in the second half after a stoppage of almost 20 minutes.

Banks had scored one of their five first-half tries, along with two each from Eva Hunter and Anna Davies.

Hunter was at her destructive best with both her scores coming from strong line breaks.

Davies’ double gave Wigan a 28-point lead within as many minutes before Featherstone managed to stem the flow through a try and, on the stroke of half-time, a penalty from Dani Waters.

It only took two minutes of the second half for Davies to nab her third, followed by that long pause for Banks, who was replaced by Academy player Emily Martin for her debut.

It didn’t take away the Warriors’ rhythm as they scored six further tries through Beri Salihi, Ellise Derbyshire, Cerys Jones, Elara Llewellyn-Sharrock, Georgia Wilson and Remi Wilton, all converted by Isabel Rowe among her eleven goals in total.

Rovers, who again finished strong in the second period with a Shavon Craven try, finish the opening phase with one win to their name and will now look to avoid the relegation play-off.

WARRIORS: 1 Grace Banks, 2 Anna Davies, 3 Georgia Wilson, 16 Beri Salihi, 5 Ellise Derbyshire, 6 Jenna Foubister, 7 Isabel Rowe, 8 Mary Coleman, 19 Remi Wilton, 21 Jade Gregory-Haselden, 11 Eva Hunter, 12 Cerys Jones, 15 Bethan Dainton. Subs: 9 Carys Marsh, 14 Rachel Thompson, 24 Elara Llewellyn-Sharrock, 28 Emily Martin

Tries: E Hunter (2, 21), Davies (8, 26, 42), Banks (17), Salihi (47), Derbyshire (51), C Jones (54), Llewellyn-Sharrock (56), Wilson (61), Wilton (70); Goals: Rowe 11/12

ROVERS: 19 Beth Macmillan, 18 Ash Prescott, 16 Kacey Davies, 4 Lydia Fawkes, 5 Shavon Craven, 6 Charley Blackburn, 3 Chloe Billington, 24 Sammy Watts, 13 Dani Waters, 15 Aaliyah Brewster, 8 Katie Evans, 31 Téssa Bemalek, 12 Brogan Churm. Subs: 10 Emillie Holmes, 14 Gabby Harrison, 22 Michaela Magonya, 23 Hope Throw

Tries: Waters (35), Craven (74); Goals: Waters 1/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 28-0, 28-4, 28-6; 34-6, 40-6, 46-6, 52-6, 58-6, 64-6, 70-6, 70-10

Half-time: 28-6; Referee: Liam Grundy