York Valkyrie 42-0 Huddersfield Giants: Match Report

York Valkyrie started their Betfred Women’s Super League campaign with a 42-0 win against Huddersfield Giants at the LNER Community Stadium.

It was a dominant performance from Leon Pryce’s side, who began the game with a level of intensity that laid a platform for the whole game.

Early tries from Ruby Ellis and Rhiannion Marshall sent a message that the Valkyrie meant business, and they went on to score a total of eight unanswered tries to get their new league campaign off to a flying start.

They got off to the ideal start, after a Huddersfield error from kick off gave the Valkyrie an early chance, only for Eboni Partington to be tackled into touch just short of the line.

It didn’t take long for the first points to come through. Playing with a good level of pace and intensity, they created space for Rhiannion Marshall to power through a space to score. She converted her own try.

On the next attack, Liv Turner was held up over the line, before Ruby Ellis was on the end of a lovely flowing move to score in the corner.

Turner went close again moments later as the Valkyrie kept on the pressure. Again, some slick passing made space and Petra Woods took the final pass to score. Marshall landed a great touchline conversion.

A quarter of the game had gone before Huddersfield got near the York line, but a kick on the last was diffused without any pressure by the Valkyrie. From there, they moved up the other end and Megan Pakulis scored from a lovely Izzy Bibby pass. With Marshall’s conversion, the Valkyrie were scoring almost a point a minute.

Sade Rihari was next to score, as the Valkyrie seemingly were coming away with points every time they got near the Huddersfield line, and they took a 28-0 lead into the break.

Tamzin Renouf made a break that almost got the scoreboard ticking over again in the first minute of the second half, as the Valkyrie looked to assert authority again.

It was Williamson who was next to score, showing some great footwork to find a way through, and she converted her own try.

A high kick from Williamson caused chaos for the Huddersfield defence, and after Woods was held short, Sinead Peach made no mistake on the next play to get the try. WIlliamson hit the post with her conversion.

Monique Donovan was on the end of more good hands to take them through the 40 point mark, but despite more pressure, that try proved to be the last in a game where the Valkyrie looked more like their best.

York: Turner, Ellis, Donovan, P Woods, Partington, Rihari, Williamson, O Wood, Bibby, Pakulis, Renouf, Parker, Marshall

Subs: (all used) Peach, Bell, Brennan, Moxon

18th Player: A Wood

Tries: Marshall (3), Ellis (7), P Woods (13), Pakulis (21), Rihari (29), Williamson (46), Peach (50), Donovan (60)

Goals: Marshall (3/4), Williamson (2/4)

Huddersfield: Brown, Barraclough, Frain, Cox, Iceton, Gale, Grady. Hobbs, Hulme, Exley, Hutchison, Haley, Cussons

Subs: (all used) Andersson, Harrap, Jackson, Hayward

18th Player: Swallow

Tries:

Goals:

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