York Valkyrie 54-12 Barrow Raiders: Challenge Cup Match Report

York Valkyrie beat Barrow Raiders 54-12 in the Betfred Challenge Cup group D, in their opening game of the year.

With just two teams remaining in the group after Salford withdrew, both clubs have progressed through to the quarter final stage.

Six first half tries, including a hat-trick from Tamzin Renouf put the Valkyrie into a commanding lead.

They followed up with four more after the break to get their year off to a dominant start.

The Valkyrie got off the mark quickly, scoring in the first set of the game. Megan Pakulis was put clear, and Tamzin Renouf was in support to score.

On the next set, Savannah Andrade crossed from a pass from Williamson, and Marshall added her first goal, and York were already well in control.

They followed that up when Brooke Henderson found a way over in the corner from a Tara Moxon pass, before a long range break from Andrade saw her go over for her second. Williamson took over the kicking duties to add the extras.

There were 27 minutes gone before Barrow had possession in the York 20 metre area, and with that, the Valkyrie showed some strong goal line defence, forcing a knock on as the Raiders pushed to score.

Renouf got a second, running a great line after some slick passing, before going in for her hat-trick three minutes later.

Barrow eventually got their first of their three tries not long before the break, when Kerrie-Ann Smith found a way through the Valkyrie line from close range for an unconverted try.

The second half started in the way of the first, with another York try. Tara Moxon got the scoring started, showing good pace to get around the outside of the defence to race away to touch down.

However, Barrow were next to score, when Chloe Capstick squeezed in at the corner, and this sparked arguably their best spell of the game. It forced some good work in defence from the Valkyrie to make sure the Raiders couldn’t take advantage.

York reasserted their dominance in their next attack. Some good slick passing created space out wide for Petra Woods to get a debut try. Williamson landed a great conversion from near the touchline.

The half back then added to her points tally with a converted try of her own beneath the sticks, but Barrow weren’t finished either.

With just minutes remaining, Emma Hutchinson reached a high ball first behind the line to score, but that was soon cancelled out as York finished on a high.

Liv Wood looked to have scored after a great move from Rhiannion Marshall, only to be held up. As the set went on, Williamson found her way through for her second try of the game, which she converted right on the final whistle.

York: Turner, Henderson, Moxon, Woods, Clarke, Rihari, Williamson, Wood, Bibby, Pakulis, Renouf, Andrade, Marshall

Subs: (all used) Wood, McDaid, Ruby E Ellis, Frederick-Maynard

18th Player: Bell

Tries: Renouf (1,29, 32), Andrade (3, 23), Henderson (20), Moxon (45), Woods (60), Williamson (74, 80)

Goals: Marshall (1/3), Williamson (6/7)

Barrow: Norman, Capstick, Stirzaker, E Hutchinson, C Hutchinson, Smith, Smillie, Crawford, Cottier, Morley, Clough, Temple, Benson

Subs: (all used) Lindsay, Friend, Mayhew-Beach, Clough

18th Player: Johnson

Tries: Smith (39), Capstick (54), E Hutchinson (77)

Goals: Lindsay (0/1), Benson (0/2)

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