WIGAN WARRIORS 32 ST HELENS 28
DAVE PARKINSON, Edge Hall Road Community Stadium, Saturday

WIGAN and St Helens gave an outstanding display of attacking Rugby League with the Warriors edging a close game after outscoring their visitors by six tries to five.

St Helens had plenty to prove after being humbled a few weeks ago in the Challenge Cup Final, and they roared in from the outset.

The visitors opened the scoring after five minutes when Emily Rudge proved unstoppable from close range and Faye Gaskin goaled.

Wigan found form in the twelfth minute when second-row Eva Hunter struck from deep in her own half to round Rebecca Rotheram and go in after a 65-metre run.

Ruby Hunter had to leave the field and Wigan defended well to deny Amy Hardcastle, however Saints grabbed their second try out on the right when some neat handling on the last tackle resulted in Phoebe Hook touching down in the corner after 21 minutes. 

When Saints next looked well placed to strike, it was Wigan who broke through the middle. Crisp hands right saw Isabel Rowe, Grace Banks and Georgia Wilson create space for Anna Davies to run round to the posts. Rowe, having missed her first attempt, goaled to level matters.

Foubister then split the line from inside her own half and selflessly handed inside for Hunter to stream in for her second score, shortly after another Hunter break was pulled back for a forward Foubister pass. Rowe converted to ensure a 16-10 advantage. 

St Helens forced a drop-out from the restart and Mia Drescher went in by the posts, where Gaskin converted, after tidy build-up.

Just before half-time, dancing feet by Rowe brought her a quality try by the posts and the conversion put Wigan in front again by 22-16.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw the Warriors enjoy more attacking position, but the introduction of Katie Mottershead sped things up for them and good play on the left from Gaskin created the first try of the second half with Rachael Woosey sweeping over out wide. Gaskin once again converted and it was 22-22 after 56 minutes.

Wigan retook the lead when Davies dived through a mass of bodies to touch down after several offloads, although Rowe was unable to goal. 

St Helens missed a great chance after 63 minutes as they worked a three-person overlap only for the ball to trickle into touch. Within seconds Wigan made them pay as Megan Williams broke free in midfield and handed on for Mary Coleman to run under the posts, with Rowe’s fourth goal making it a ten-point lead.

Gaskin was forced from the field late on and St Helens threw caution to the wind, going over out wide through Hook after 76 minutes. Luci McColm missed the conversion but an eight-point try was awarded due to a foul on Hook by Eva Hunter, who was yellow carded, and McColm successfully struck the penalty. 

Wigan forced a drop-out from the restart but St Helens recovered possession to enjoy one last period of pressure, only for the home side to hold out.

GAMESTAR: Anna Davies gave a blockbusting performance from her wing position with a series of excellent carries and two tries to just edge Vicky Whitfield.

GAMEBREAKER: Mary Coleman’s try gave Wigan just enough breathing space.

MATCHFACTS

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
15 Bethan Dainton
11 Eva Hunter
22 Ruby Hunter
13 Megan Williams
Subs (all used)
9 Carys Marsh
10 Mia Atherton
17 Kelsey Gentles
20 Lucie Sams

Tries: E Hunter (12, 30), Davies (26, 58), Rowe (39), Coleman (65)
Goals: Rowe 4/6
Sin bin: E Hunter (76) – late tackle

SAINTS
1 Rebecca Rotheram
2 Phoebe Hook
4 Amy Hardcastle
3 Rachael Woosey
25 Dani McGifford
22 Mia Drescher
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
18 Luci McColm
28 Jadine McVernon (not used)

Tries: Rudge (5), Hook (21, 76), Drescher (33), Woosey (56)
Goals: Gaskin 3/4, McColm 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-10, 10-10, 16-10, 16-16, 22-16; 22-22, 26-22, 32-22, 32-26, 32-28

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Warriors: Anna Davies; Saints: Vicky Whitfield

Penalty count: 3-8
Half-time: 22-16
Referee: Ollie Salmon