WIGAN WARRIORS 26 LEEDS RHINOS 20
DAVID KUZIO, Edge Hall Road Community Stadium, Saturday

WIGAN held off a spirited fightback from Leeds to secure the League Leaders’ Shield and advance straight to the Grand Final.

The Warriors looked out of sight after 22 minutes, scoring four tries to lead 20-0, but Leeds hit back with two tries of their own to halve the deficit by half-time. 

Wigan looked to have killed the game off with Eva Hunter scoring just after the break, and though two more tries from the Rhinos kept the score close, they fell short by six points.

Wigan looked dangerous from the opening minute with Anna Davies causing problems.

It took just five minutes for them to score their first points with Jenna Foubister providing a neat inside ball for prop Mary Coleman to race through a gap and score.

And the home side extended their lead in the next set.

Strong runs from Coleman, Lucie Sams and Remi Wilton got them deep downfield, before Foubister was again provider with a short ball for Molly Jones to use her pace and score.

Leeds could not live with the strength of Coleman as she continued to make yards. Wigan almost made it three tries in the first 10 minutes but the pass to Ellise Derbyshire went to ground. 

The Rhinos finally launched their first attack with Mel Howard and Georgia Elliston going close, but they could not break through a resilient Wigan defensive line. 

Instead, Wigan turned defence into attack with Hunter making a break and racing over 50 yards before being tackled yards short of the line. A penalty for a hair pull on Wilton saw the Warriors tap and Sams barged over from close range. Isabel Rowe added the extras for the first time.

It was a dominant first 22 minutes from the Warriors and after Hunter and Georgia Wilson went close, Coleman steamed through another gap to grab her second. Rowe converted and Wigan looked comfortable at 20-0.

Liv Whitehead went close for the Rhinos, but she dropped the ball over the line, before they finally posted some points. Derbyshire dropped a towering bomb and Lois Naidole was on hand to touch down. Howard converted.

Wigan seemed to switch off, inviting Leeds back into the match. It was an opportunity too good to pass up for the Rhinos, as Naidole forced her way over in the corner for her second.

Howard was off target, but the gap was now only 10 points at the break.

Wigan started the second half in the same vein as they had the first.

Wilson did well to keep the ball alive before play was switched to the left, where Hunter threw an outrageous dummy and outpaced the Leeds defence to score. Rowe converted to make it 26-10.

However, the Rhinos refused to go away and they crossed for their third try with Whitehead collecting a long ball from Howard to touch down in the corner.

Leeds were handling the wet weather conditions better than the Warriors with Howard and Ruby Walker combining well in the halves.

And after a kick from the latter was fumbled by Grace Banks, Leeds made their pressure count, with Shannon Brown scoring. Howard converted and they only trailed by six.

It was all Leeds in the second period with Walker a constant thorn in Wigan’s side. Her kick through forced a drop out, while another from Howard saw Banks knock on again as the Warriors were hanging on.

However, a knock on from Howard let Wigan off the hook.

The re-introduction of Coleman seemed to lift the Warriors, while a big hit from Wilson and Anna Davies saw Wigan reclaim the ball 10 metres from Leeds’ line, but they could not get that killer score that would have sealed the game.

It did not matter as they withstood everything Leeds threw at them with Wilson producing a try saving tackle at the death. 

GAMESTAR: Mary Coleman was threat during both her spells and Wigan looked better with her on the field, and she was rewarded with two tries.

GAMEBREAKER: Eva Hunter’s try at the start of the second half proved to be the difference.

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
17 Kelsey Gentles

Tries: Coleman (5, 22), M Jones (8), Sams (16), E Hunter (43)
Goals: Rowe 3/5

RHINOS
1 Ruby Enright
5 Liv Whitehead
4 Evie Cousins
15 Connie Boyd
2 Ebony Stead
6 Mel Howard
7 Ruby Walker
26 Georgia Elliston
9 Keara Bennett
10 Kaiya Glynn
12 Lucy Murray
22 Lois Naidole
13 Shannon Brown
Subs (all used)
17 Grace Short
20 Jess Sharp
27 Nicole Kennedy
28 Bella Sykes

Tries: Naidole (27, 32), Whitehead (46), Brown (63)
Goals: Howard 2/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 14-0, 20-0, 20-6, 20-10; 26-10, 26-14, 26-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Warriors: Mary Coleman; Rhinos: Ruby Walker

Penalty count: 8-3
Half-time: 20-10
Referee: Reece Schofield