🤝 York RLFC Match Reports are proudly partnered by Drive Taxis!
York Valkyrie became the first club in Betfred Women’s Super League history to win back-to-back League Leaders’ Shield after seeing off Wigan Warriors 36-4 at Robin Park Arena.
Sinead Doria gave Wigan an early lead but York wrestled back to lead 10-4 at half-time thanks to Lacey Owen and Rhiannion Marshall tries.
The Valkyrie found their groove in the second half, scoring four times in the space of a dozen through Carrie Roberts’ double, Savannah Andrade and a second from Marshall. Emma Kershaw put the icing on the cake in the final stages.
The victory sealed an history second successive League Leaders’ Shield crown with one regular season game to spare for the undefeated table-toppers.
The Valkyrie did have things all their own way though at Robin Park Arena though.
Wigan made the dream start, taking the lead inside the opening couple of minutes when York allowed Doria’s kick to bounce, with the ball kindly falling back into the hands of the half-back before she raced to the right corner to touch down. Beri Salihi was unable to land the conversion.
York needed just five minutes to hit back though, Owen marking her return from injury with a try by hitting Rhiannion Marshall’s short pass.
Marshall turned provider to scorer midway through the first half, proving too strong for the Wigan goal-line defence from close range after Owen had gone close a play earlier.
Tara Jane Stanley converted the latter but not the former try - her first of four goals from six attempts - to hand the Valkyrie a 10-4 lead at the break.
A quick-fire double after the break from Roberts inside the space of just four minutes put York in command, the centre twice finishing off neat right-side shift plays.
Andrade also crossed down the right side, capitalising from Wigan failing to catch a cross-field kick from Stanley.
Like Roberts, Marshall finished with a brace, the half-back driving onto a bullet pass from Peach at close range.
Interchange Emma Kershaw wrapped up the scoring with seven minutes left, diving in at the right corner from Roberts’ pass.
Wigan: Salihi, Greenfield, Biville, Jones, Davies, Thompson, Doria, Jones, Dwyer, Johnson, Hunter, Coleman, Molyneux
Subs (all used): Hilton, Marsh, Hayes, Bardsley
Tries: Doria (2’)
Goals: Salihi (0/1)
York: Stanley, Hyde, Renouf, Roberts, Hetherington, Rihari, Marshall, Akpa, Peach, Staveley, Andrade, Owen, Wood
Subs (all used): Kershaw, Bell, Sanderson, Sharp
Tries: Owen (7’), Marshall (24’, 59’), Roberts (47’, 51’), Andrade (55’), Kershaw (73’)
Goals: Stanley (4/6), Marshall (0/1)
Geoff Pryce Player of the Match in partnership with Isaac Poad Brewing: Carrie Roberts
